GIFT  OF 


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1 1 


ALLYN   AND   BACON'S   COLLEGE   LATIN   SERIES 

UNDER    THE    GENERAL    EDITORSHIP    OF 
CHARLES   E.   BENNETT  AND  JOHN   C.    ROLFE 


Q.  HORATI  FLACCI 
SERMONES  ET  EPISTULAE 


WITH  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES  BY 

JOHN    CAREW   ROLFE 

PROFESSOR   OF  LATIN   IN   THE   UNIVERSITY   OF   MICHIGAN 


or  THE 
UNIVERSITY 

or 


Boston 

ALLYN    AND    BACON 
1901 


ft  ft  A/ 


COPYRIGHT,    1901,    BY 
JOHN     CAREW    ROLFE. 


NortooolJ  ^Drrss 

J.  S.  Gushing  &  Co.  -  Berwick  &  Smith 
Norwood  Mass.  U.S.A. 


H? 


PATRI    CARISSIMO 

WILLIAM  J.   KOLFE,   LITT.D. 

L.  M. 
FILIUS 


PREFACE. 

IN  the  preparation  of  this  edition  the  needs  of  college 
students  have  steadily  been  kept  in  view,  and  I  have  en- 
deavored not  to  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  Horace  is  usually 
read  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  college  course.  Therefore, 
while  I  have  made  full  use  of  the  available  critical  and 
epexegetical  material,  the  commentary  is  usually  brief  and 
somewhat  dogmatic,  rarely  offering  more  than  one  interpre- 
tation of  the  many  disputed  passages.  The  discussion  of 
variant  readings  is  also  excluded. 

I  have  consulted  no  American  edition,  for  obvious  reasons ; 
but  as  I  am  more  or  less  familiar  with  all  of  them,  it  is 
difficult  to  say  how  much  I  may  be  indebted  to  them  indi- 
rectly. The  same  statement  applies  to  the  English  editions, 
except  that  I  have  occasionally  consulted  Palmer  and  Wil- 
kins.  I  have  freely  used  the  standard  German  commen- 
taries, especially  that  of  Kiessling. 

I  am  under  obligation  to  my  friend,  Professor  Charles  E. 
Bennett,  for  permission  to  use  a  part  of  his  Introduction 
(§§  1-14,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  "  General  Character  of 
Latin  Poetry "),  as  well  as  for  many  helpful  suggestions. 
Dr.  Clarence  L.  Meader,  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  has 
read  all  the  proofs,  and  my  father  has  given  me  the  benefit 
of  his  criticism  of  the  Outlines  and  the  Introduction. 


JOHN  CAREW   ROLFE. 


ANN  ARBOR,  MICHIGAN, 
August,  1901. 


INTRODUCTION   TO   THE   SATIRES. 


HORACE'S   LIFE. 

1.  Birth  and  Early  Life.  —  Quintus  Horatius  Flaccus  was 
born  at  the  little  town  of  Venusia,  on  the  borders  of  Apulia 
and  Lucania,  December  8,  65  B.C.  His  father  was  a  freed- 
man,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  collector  of  taxes.  In  this 
business  he  saved  some  money,  and,  dissatisfied  with  the 
advantages  offered  by  the  school  at  Venusia,  took  the  young 
Horace  to  E/ome  for  his  early  education.  This  plan  evi- 
dently involved  no  little  personal  and  financial  sacrifice  on 
the  father's  part  —  a  sacrifice  appreciated  to  the  full  by 
Horace,  if  not  at  the  time,  at  least  in  his  later  life.  In  a 
touching  passage  almost  unique  in  ancient  literature  (Sat.  i. 
6.  70  ff.),  the  poet  tells  us  of  the  father's  devotion  at  this 
period.  Ambitious  only  for  his  son's  mental  and  moral 
improvement,  without  a  thought  of  the  larger  material 
prizes  of  life,  he  not  only  provided  Horace  with  the  best  in- 
struction the  capital  afforded,  but  watched  with  anxious  care 
over  the  boy's  moral  training  as  well,  even  accompanying 
him  to  school  and  back  again  to  his  lodgings.  One  of  Hor- 
ace's teachers  at  this  period  was  Orbilius,  who  is  referred 
to  in  Epist.  ii.  1.  70  as  a  severe  disciplinarian  (plagosum). 
Under  Orbilius,  Horace  apparently  pursued  the  grammatical 
studies  which  formed  the  staple  of  the  literary  training 
of  the  day.  Later,  he  probably  devoted  attention  to  the 


viii  HORACE'S   LIFE. 

more  advanced  rhetorical  training;   under  what  teacher  is 
unknown. 

2.  Athens.  —  In  his  nineteenth  year  or  thereabouts  (i.e. 
about  46  B.C.),  Horace  went  to  Athens  to  add  the  finishing 
touches  to  his  education  by  the  study  of  philosophy,  which 
still   enjoyed  a  nourishing  existence  and  was  represented 
by  several  schools,  —  the  Stoic,  Epicurean,  Peripatetic,  and 
Academic.      The  Greek  poets  also  engaged  his   attention 
largely.     Among  his  friends  at  this  time  may  be  mentioned 
the  young  Cicero,  son  of  the  orator,  and  M.  Valerius  Mes- 
salla,  who,  with  many  other  young  Romans,  were  residing  at 
Athens  for  the  purpose  of  study. 

3.  Brutus  and  Philippi.  —  After  some  two  years,  the  '  still 
air  of  delightful  studies '  was  rudely  agitated  for  Horace  by 
political  events.     Caesar  had  been  assassinated  in  March  of 
44  B.C.,  and,  in  September  of  that  year,  Brutus  arrived  in 
Athens,  burning  with  the  spirit  of  republicanism.     Horace 
was  easily  induced  to  join  his  standard,  and,  though  with- 
out previous  military  training  or  experience,  received  the 
important  position  of  tribunus  militum  in  Brutus's  army. 
The  battle  of  Philippi  (November,  42  B.C.)  sounded  the 
death-knell  of  republican  hopes,  and  left   Horace  in  bad 
case.     His  excellent  father  had  died,  and  the  scant  patri- 
mony which  would  have  descended  to  the  poet  had  been 
confiscated  by  Octavian  in  consequence  of  the  son's  support 
of  Brutus  and  Cassius. 

4.  Return  to  Rome.     Beginning  of  Career  as  Man  of  Let- 
ters.    Maecenas.     The  Sabine  Farm.  —  Taking  advantage  of 
the  general  amnesty  granted  by  Octavian,  Horace  returned 
to  Rome  in  41  B.C.  and  there  secured  a  position  as  quaestor's 
clerk  (scriba),  devoting  his  intervals  of  leisure  to  composi- 
tion in  verse.      He  soon  formed  a  warm  friendship  with 
Virgil,  then  just  beginning  his  career  as  poet,  and  with 


HORACE'S   LIFE.  ix 

Varius ;  through  their  influence  he  was  admitted  (39  B.C.) 
to  the  intimacy  and  friendship  of  Maecenas,  the  confidential 
adviser  of  Octavian,  and  a  generous  patron  of  literature. 
About  six  years  later  (probably  33  B.C.),  he  received  from 
Maecenas  the  Sabine  Farm,  situated  some  thirty  miles  to 
the  northeast  of  Rome,  in  the  valley  of  the  Digentia,  a 
small  stream  flowing  into  the  Anio.  This  estate  was  not 
merely  adequate  for  his  support,  enabling  him  to  devote 
his  entire  energy  to  study  and  poetry,  but  was  an  unfailing 
source  of  happiness  as  well ;  Horace  never  wearies  of  singing 
its  praises. 

5.  Horace's  Other  Friendships.  —  Horace's  friendship -with 
Maecenas,  together  with  his  own  admirable  social  qualities 
and  poetic  gifts,  won  him  an  easy  entrance  into  the  best 
Roman  society.     His  Odes  bear  eloquent  testimony  to  his 
friendship  with  nearly  all  the  eminent  Romans  of  his  time. 
Among  these  were :   Agrippa,  Octavian's  trusted   general, 
and  later  his  son-in-law;   Messalla,  the  friend  of  Horace's 
Athenian  student  days,  and  later  one  of  the  foremost  ora- 
tors of  the  age ;  Pollio,  distinguished  alike  in  the  fields  of 
letters,  oratory,  and  arms.      The  poets  Virgil  and  Varius 
have  already  been  mentioned.     Other  literary  friends  were: 
Quintilius   Varus,   Valgius,   Plotius,   Aristius   Fuscus,   and 
Tibullus. 

6.  Relations  with  Augustus. — With   the   Emperor,  Hor- 
ace's relations  were  intimate  and  cordial.     Though  he  had 
fought  with  conviction  under  Brutus  and  Cassius  at  Phi- 
lippi,  yet  he  possessed  too  much  sense  and  patriotism  to  be 
capable  of  ignoring  the  splendid  promises  of  stability  and 
good  government  held  out  by  the  new  regime  inaugurated 
by  Augustus.     In  sincere  and  loyal  devotion  to  his  sover- 
eign, he  not  merely  accepted  the  new  order,  but  lent  the 
best  efforts  of  his  verse  to  glorifying  and  strengthening  it. 


X  HORACE'S   WORKS. 

In  the  life  of  Horace  attributed  to  Suetonius,  we  learn 
that  Augustus  offered  the  poet  the  position  of  private  sec- 
retary. Horace,  with  dignified  independence,  declined  the 
offer,  a  step  that  seems  to  have  made  no  difference,  how- 
ever, in  the  cordial  friendship  with  which  Augustus  con- 
tinued to  honor  him. 

He  remained  true  to  the  Muse  till  his  death,  November 
27,  8  B.C.,  a  few  days  before  the  completion  of  his  fifty- 
seventh  year,  and  but  a  few  weeks  after  the  death  of  his 
patron  and  friend,  Maecenas. 

II. 
HORACE'S  WORKS. 

7.  The  Satires.  —  Horace's  first  published  work  was  Book  I. 
of  the  Satires,  which  appeared  in  35  B.C.  Five  years  later, 
Book  II.  was  published.  Though  conventionally  called 
'  Satires/  and  alluded  to  by  Horace  himself  as  satirae,  these 
were  entitled  by  him  Sermones,  as  being  talks,  so  to  speak, 
couched  in  the  familiar  language  of  everyday  life.  They 
represent  a  type  of  literature  whose  early  beginnings  are 
obscure,  but  which  is  clearly  an  indigenous  Roman  product 
and  not  an  imitation  of  Greek  models,  as  is  the  case  with 
almost  every  other  type  of  Latin  poetry.  Horace  was  not 
the  first  representative  of  this  kind  of  writing  among  the 
Romans.  Ennius,  Lucilius,  and  Varro  had  been  his  prede- 
cessors in  the  same  field.  Of  these  three,  Lucilius  beyond 
question  exercised  the  greatest  influence  upon  the  poet.  In 
Horace's  hands,  satire  consists  in  the  main  of  urbane  com- 
ment upon  the  vices  and  foibles  of  the  day,  coupled  with 
amusing  incidents  of  personal  experience  and  good-natured 
raillery  at  the  defects  of  the  prevailing  philosophical  systems, 
of  which  he  was  always  an  earnest  and  intelligent  student. 
Besides  this  we  have  several  pieces  dealing  directly  with 


HOE  ACE'S   WORKS.  xi 

the  scope  and  function  of  satire  as  a  species  of  literary 
composition. 

8.  The  Epodes.  —  These  were  published  in  29  B.C.  and 
mark  the  transition  from  the  Satires  to  the  Odes.      They 
resemble  the  Satires  in  their  frequent  polemic  character,  the 
Odes  in  the  lyric  form  in  which  they  are  cast.      Though 
published  after  the  two  books  of   the   Satires,  several  of 
them  apparently  represent  the  earliest  of   Horace's  efforts 
in  verse  that  have  been  preserved. 

9.  The  Odes  and  Carmen  Saeculare.  —  Books  I.— III.  of  the 

Odes  were  published  in  23  B.C.,  when  Horace  was  forty-two 
years  old.  Many  of  them  had  unquestionably  been  written 
several  years  before,  some  apparently  as  early  as  32  B.C. 
These  Odes  at  once  raised  Horace  to  the  front  rank  of  Roman 
poets,  and  assured  his  permanent  fame.  Six  years  later 
(17  B.C.),  he  was  the  natural  choice  of  Augustus  for  the  com- 
position of  the  Carmen  Saeculare  to  be  sung  at  the  saecular 
celebration  held  in  that  year.  In  13  B.C.  appeared  Book  IV. 
of  the  Odes.  Though  containing  some  of  the  poet's  best 
work,  this  last  book  nevertheless  bears  certain  traces  of 
perfunctoriness.  The  Suetonian  life  of  Horace  records  that 
it  was  written  at  the  express  request  of  the  Emperor  —  a 
statement  borne  out  by  the  lack  of  spontaneity  characteristic 
of  some  of  the  poems. 

10.  The  Epistles  and  Ars  Poetica.  —  There  are  two  books 
of  Epistles.      Book  I.  was  published  in  20  B.C.,  Book  II. 
probably  in  14  B.C.     Of  the  epistles  contained  in  Book  I., 
some   are   genuine   letters  such  as  friend  might  write   to 
friend;    others  are  simply  disquisitions  in  verse  form  on 
questions  of  life,  letters,  or  philosophy.     Book  II.  consists  of 
but  two  epistles,  one  to  Julius  Floras,  the  other  to  Augustus. 
Both  these  pieces  deal  with  questions  of  literary  criticism 
and  poetic  composition. 


Xli  MANUSCRIPTS,  SCHOLIA,  EDITIONS. 

The  Ars  Poetica,  as  it  is  conventionally  designated,  is  an 
essay  on  the  art  of  poetic  composition  —  chiefly  the  drama. 
It  is  addressed  to  a  certain  Piso  and  his  two  sons,  and 
Horace  probably  entitled  it  simply  Epistula  ad  Pisones. 
The  date  of  this  composition  is  uncertain ;  but  as  it  is  one 
of  the  ripest,  so  it  is  probably  one  of  the  latest,  if  not  the 
very  latest,  of  all  his  extant  writings.  It  is  often  printed 
as  the  third  epistle  of  Book  II. 

11.  Chronological  Table  of  Horace's  Works  :  — 

35  B.C.  Satires,  Book  I. 

30  B.C.  Satires,  Book  II. 

29  B.C.  The  Epodes. 

23  B.C.  The  Odes,  Books  I.-III. 

20  B.C.  The  Epistles,  Book  I. 

17  B.C.  The  Carmen  Saeculare. 

14  B.C.  The  Epistles,  Book  II. 

13  B.C.  The  Odes,  Book  IV. 
9  B.C.  (?)  The  Ars  Poetica. 

III. 
MANUSCRIPTS,  SCHOLIA,  EDITIONS. 

12.  Manuscripts.  — There  are  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
manuscripts  of  Horace's  works.     No  one  of  these  is  older 
than  the  eighth  century,  and  most  belong  to  the  eleventh 
century  and  later.     Among  the  most  important  manuscripts 
may  be  mentioned :  — 

F.  Blandinius  Vetustissimus.  This  manuscript,  which 
once  belonged  to  the  Abbaye  de  St.  Pierre  on  Mont  Blandin 
(the  modern  Blankenberg),  is  now  lost.  It  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  together  with  the  abbey,  in  1566.  But  Cruquius 
(Jacques  de  Crusque),  professor  at  Bruges,  had  previously 
examined  it  with  care,  and  cites  its  readings  with  great 


MANUSCRIPTS,    SCHOLIA,    EDITIONS.  xiii 

frequency  in  his  edition  of  1577.  Some  critics  have  chal- 
lenged the  very  existence  of  this  manuscript,  and  have 
charged  that  Cruquius's  citations  of  its  alleged  readings 
are  forgeries.  But  while  Cruquius  is  often  guilty  of  care- 
lessness and  gross  blunders,  it  is  improbable  that  he  was 
guilty  of  dishonesty,  and  most  Horatian  critics  to-day  recog- 
nize that  Fwas  a  real  manuscript,  and  that  its  readings  as 
noted  by  Cruquius  are  of  value. 

B.  Bernensis,  363,  in  the  municipal  library  at  Berne, 
Switzerland.  This  belongs  to  the  ninth  century,  and  has 
recently  been  published  in  an  admirable  photographic  fac- 
simile. 

R.  Sueco-Vaticanus,  No.  1703,  formerly  the  property  of 
Queen  Christina  of  Sweden,  and  now  in  the  Vatican.  This 
was  written  in  the  eighth  century  and,  according  to  Keller, 
is  the  oldest  of  our  extant  manuscripts  of  Horace. 

Keller  attaches  the  greatest  weight  to  these  last  two  manu- 
scripts, B  and  R,  and  holds  that  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten 
their  agreement  points  to  the  reading  of  the  archetype  of 
all  our  extant  manuscripts. 

No  convincing  classification  of  Horatian  manuscripts  has 
yet  been  made,  and  the  great  difficulties  of  the  problem  ren- 
der extremely  doubtful  the  eventual  success  of  any  such 
attempt. 

13.  Scholia.  —  Scholia  are  explanatory  notes  on  the 
ancient  writers.  Sometimes  these  form  separate  works 
of  elaborate  scope ;  at  other  times  they  consist  simply  of 
additions  made  by  copyists  to  the  manuscripts  themselves. 
Our  Horatian  scholia  comprise  the  following :  — 

PORPHYRIO,  a  scholiast  who  lived  probably  in  the  early 
part  of  the  third  century  A.D.  and  has  left  us  an  extensive 
commentary  on  all  of  Horace's  writings. 

This  collection  bears  the  name  of  Hele- 


xiv  MANUSCRIPTS,  SCHOLIA,   EDITIONS. 

nius  Acron,  who  belonged  perhaps  in  the  third  century  of 
our  era ;  but  these  scholia  are  not  the  work  of  Acron.  His 
name  apparently  became  attached  to  them  only  in  late  medi- 
aeval times,  as  a  result  of  the  tradition  that  Acron  was  the 
author  of  certain  scholia  on  Horace.  These  scholia  of  the 
pseudo-Acron  are  not  even  the  work  of  a  single  hand,  but 
are  manifestly  gathered  from  several  sources. 

COMMENTATOR  CRUQLTIANUS.  This  is  a  collective  name 
given  to  the  scholia  gathered  by  the  Cruquius  already  men- 
tioned, from  several  manuscripts.  They  are  relatively  un- 
important. 

14.  Editions.  —  Only  a  few  of  the  most  important  editions 
are  here  given. 

TEXTUAL. 

Eichard  Bentley,  1726,  and  often  reprinted. 
Keller  and  Holder.     Editio  major.     Leipzig.     1864-1870. 
Keller  and  Holder.     Editio  minor.     Leipzig.     1878. 
Keller  and  Holder.     Iterum  recensuit  Otto  Keller.     Vol.  I. 

(Odes,  Epodes,  and  Carmen  /Saeculare).    Leipzig.    1899. 

Vol.  II.  (Satires  and  Epistles)  has  not  yet  appeared. 
Otto  Keller,  Epilegomena  zu  Horaz,  Leipzig.     1879-1880. 

An  exhaustive  presentation  of  variant  readings,  with 

discussion. 

EXPLANATORY. 
COMPLETE  EDITIONS. 

Orelli,  Editio    Quarta   Major,   Curaverunt  Hirschf elder  et 

Mewes.     Berlin.     1886,   1892.     With   complete  word 

index. 
A.  Kiessling.     Berlin.     2d  edition.      1890-1898.     Vol.  I. 

(Odes  and  Epodes)  is  now  in  3d  edition.     1898. 
H.  Schtitz.    Berlin.     1880-1883.     Vol.  I.  (Odes  and  Epodes) 

is  now  in  3d  edition.    1889. 


THE   DEVELOPMENT   OF   ROMAN  SATIRE.  XV 

Wickham.     Oxford.     Clarendon  Press.     Odes  and  Epodes, 

3d  edition.     1896.     Satires  and  Epistles,  1891. 
Page,  Palmer,  and  Wilkins.    London  and  New  York.    1896. 

EDITIONS  OF  ODES  AND  EPODES. 

K.  K.  Kiister.    Paderborn.     1890. 
L.  Mtlller.     Leipzig.     1900. 

EDITIONS  OF  SATIRES  AND  EPISTLES. 

G.  T.  A.  Kriiger.     Leipzig.     14th  edition.     1898, 1901. 
L.  Miiller.     Leipzig.     1891,  1893. 

IV. 

THE  DEVELOPMENT   OF  ROMAN   SATIRE. 
A.   THE  DRAMATIC  SATURA. 

15.  The  derivation  of  the  adjective  satur  has  not  been 
satisfactorily  explained.  It  is  the  only  adjective  in  -ur  in 
the  Latin  language  which  belongs  to  the  o-declension,  a  fact 
which  was  observed  and  commented  on  by  the  native  gram- 
marians.1 Its  early  occurrence  in  the  sense  of  '  full '  makes 
it  improbable  that  it  is  a  borrowed  word,  from  the  Greek 
o-drvpoi.  It  is  used  with  that  meaning,  for  instance,  by 
Plautus,  Men.  927,  uU  satur  sum,  nulla  crepitant:  quando 
esurio,  turn  crepant;  cf.  Horace,  Serm.  i.  1.  119,  cedat  uti 
conviva  satur.  In  a  metaphorical  sense,  as  applied  to  the 
mind,  the  word  is  early  and  frequent,  occurring,  for  example, 
in  Plant.  Poen.  prol.  8,  qui  non  edistis,  saturi  Jite  fabulis.  In 
post-classical  Latin  the  adjective  gradually  went  out  of 
use,  doubtless  on  account  of  its  isolated  grammatical  form. 
Satiatus  (It.  sazio)  and  satullus  (It.  estollo;  Fr.  soul)  seem  to 
have  taken  its  place. 

1  E.g.  Charisius  in  Keil's  Gramm.  Lat.  I.  183.  7. 


Xvi          THE   DEVELOPMENT  OF  ROMAN   SATIRE. 

The  original,  and  classical,  orthography  was  satura.  Be- 
sides this  we  find  satira  and  satyra.  The  former  was  very 
likely  due  to  false  analogy  with  words  like  maxumus  :  maxi- 
mus;  optumus  :  optimus;  the  latter  to  a  fancied  connection 
with  the  Greek  a-drvpoi. 

The  transition  to  the  meaning  '  mixed '  is  found  in  the 
expression  per  saturam,  found,  for  example,  in  Sallust,  Jug. 
29.  5,  dein  postero  die  quasi  per  saturam  sententiis  exquisitis, 
in  deditionem  accipitur.  Here  we  perhaps  have  ellipsis  of 
legem,  although  the  often  quoted  lex  satura  and  lanx  satura 
are  not  found  in  the  literature,  but  rest  only  on  the  authority 
of  the  grammarians. 

16.  The  noun  satura  (sc.  fabula)  is  applied  by  Livy,  vii. 
2.  4  ff.  to  an  early  form  of  the  native  Italian  drama.  Ac- 
cording to  his  very  unsatisfactory  account,  the  dramatic 
satura  formed  a  transition  from  the  rude  Fescennine  verses 
to  the  Graeco-B-oman  comedy  of  Livius  Andronicus.  The 
aetiological  character  of  Livy's  narrative  is  generally  recog- 
nized, and  some  scholars l  have  gone  so  far  as  to  deny  the 
existence  of  a  dramatic  satura,  believing  that  it  was  invented 
as  a  parallel  to  the  Greek  satyr-drama  or  to  the  Old  Comedy. 
This  view  has  not  been  generally  accepted,  and  the  non- 
existence  of  a  dramatic  satura  cannot  be  regarded  as  proved.2 

Concerning  the  meaning  of  satura,  as  applied  to  the  drama, 
opinions  differ  widely.  Mommsen 3  regards  it  as  signifying 
'the  mask  of  the  full  men,'  while  Eibbeck4  assumes  that 

1  See  Hendrickson,  The  Dramatic  Satura  and  the  Old  Comedy  at 
Rome,  and  A  pre-Varronian   Chapter  of  Roman  Literary  History, 
Amer.  Jour,  of  Phil  xv.  (1895),  pp.  4  ff.,  and  xviii.  (1898),  285  ff. 

2  See  especially  Schanz,  Geschichte  der  romischen  Litteratur,  I2, 
p.    19 ;    Pease,  article  Satira  in  Harper's  Diet,  of  Class.  Lit.  and 
Antiquities. 

3  Rom.  Geschichte,  I6,  p.  28. 

*  Geschichte  der  romischen  Dichtung,  I2,  p.  9. 


THE   DEVELOgg^AN   SATIRE.          xvii 

the  word  has  the  sense  of  the  Greek  a-drvpoi  and  refers  to 
the  dress  of  the  actors,  who  he  believes  were  clad  in  goat- 
skins. It  seems  simplest  to  regard  the  word  as  meaning  '  a 
medley.'  This  view  establishes  a  connection  between  the 
dramatic  and  the  literary  satura,  and  has  a  parallel  in 
French  farce  (  =  farsa)  and  in  Juvenal's  lines,1  — 

Quidquid  agunt  homines,  votum,  timor,  ira,  voluptas, 
Gaudia,  discursus,  nostri  farrago  libelli  est. 

B.   THE  LITERARY  SATURA. 
1.    TJie  School  of  Ennius. 

17.  When  the  dramatic  satura  gave  place  to  the  Graeco- 
Roman   comedy,  it  seems  to  have  survived  as  a  literary 
form.     The  same  thing  was  true  of  the  versus  Fescennini, 
which  appear  in  the  classical  period  in  the  epitlmlamia,  in 
the  songs  of  the  soldiers  during  the  triumphal  processions, 
and  the  like.     In  its  earliest  form  it  seems  to  have  been  a 
medley  of  prose  and  of  verse  in  various  metres,  in  which  a 
variety  of  subjects  were  briefly  treated.     The  earliest  repre- 
sentative of  this  form  of  composition  is  said  to  have  been 
Cn.   Naevius  (269-204   B.C.)  of  Campania,  the  well-known 
dramatic  and  epic  poet.     It  is,  however,  very  probable  that 
the  satura  of  Naevius,  to  which  Festus  refers,  was  dramatic. 

18.  The  first  writer   who   is  known  to  have  published 
saturae  is  Quintus  Ennius  (239-169  B.C.)  of  Rudiae  in  Cala- 
bria,2 '  the  father  of  Roman  poetry,'  from  whose  work  a 
number  of  fragments  have  been  preserved.     Quintilian,  ix. 
2.  26,  tells  us  that  they  consisted,  in  part  at  least,  of  dia- 
logue:   ut  Mortem  ac   Vitam,  quas  contendentes  in   satura 
tradit  Ennius.    They  seem  to  have  been  wholly  in  verse  and 

1  I.  86. 

2  Porphyrio,  on  Hor.  Serm.  i.  10.  46,  Ennius  qui  quattuor  libros- 
saturarum  reliquit. 


xviii       THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  ROMAN  SATIRE. 

to  have  been  composed  in  various  metres.  No  prose  frag- 
ments can  with  certainty  be  attributed  to  the  elder  Ennius. 

To  what  extent  Ennius  was  indebted  to  Greek  originals 
is  a  matter  of  dispute.  If  we  take  into  account  the  well- 
known  statement  of  Quintilian 1  and  the  case  of  Varro,2  it 
seems  probable  that  the  form  was  original  with  Ennius, 
and  that  it  was  adapted  from  the  dramatic  satura,  although 
in  his  subject-matter  he  undoubtedly  followed  Greek  sources. 
It  is  perhaps  noteworthy  that  the  early  writers  of  satire,  as 
well  as  those  to  whom  such  works  are  attributed,  were  also 
dramatic  poets. 

The  satires  of  Ennius  also  resembled  those  of  Horace,  in 
that  he  recorded  his  personal  experiences  and  feelings, 
and  made  free  use  of  the  Aesopian  fables.3 

Saturae  are  attributed  by  Diomedes  4  arid  by  Porphyrio 5 
to  the  nephew  of  Ennius,  the  tragic  poet  and  painter, 
M.  Pacuvius  (220-132  B.C.)  of  Brundisium,  but  it  is  pos- 
sible that  his  saturae,  like  those  of  Naevius,  were  dramatic.6 

19.  The  Menippean  satires  of  M.  Terentius  Varro  (116- 
28  B.C.)  of  E-eate  belong  to  the  school  of  Ennius,  so  far  as 
their  form  is  concerned.  In  a  medley  of  prose  and  verse,  the 
latter  representing  many  different  metres,  he  describes  and 
comments  on  familiar  events  of  everyday  life.  The  collec- 
tion consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  books,  and  its  nature 
is  indicated  by  some  of  the  titles  of  the  various  topics  which 
have  come  down  to  us  :  Cave  canem;  Nescis  quid  vesper  serus 
vehat;  Cras  credo,  Jiodie  nihil;  Bimarcus;  Marcopolis,  etc. 

The  titles,  as  well  as  the  statement  of  Cicero  in  Acad. 
Post.  ii.  8,  lead  to  the  inference  that,  while  Varro  modelled 
his  work  in  general  on  the  ^TrovSoyeAotoi/  of  Menippus  of 

1  Satura  quidem  tota  nostra  est,  x.  1.  93. 

2  See  below.  *  Gramm.  Lat.  i.  485.  33.  K. 
8  See  Gellius,  ii.  29.  20.                          5  On  Hor.  Serm.  i.  10.  46. 

6  See,  however,  Hopkins,  Proc.  Amer.  Phil.  Assoc.  xxxi.  (1901)  p.  1. 


THE   DEVELOPMENT   OF  KOMAN  SATIRE.  xix 

Gadara  (about  250  B.C.),  he  inserted  much,  original  matter, 
and  that  he  chose  as  his  literary  form  the  native  Bornan 
satura. 

Although  the  existing  fragments  belong  to  a  work  of 
superior  finish  and  interest  to  that  of  Lucilius,  it  seems 
never  to  have  become  popular.  Horace  does  not  mention  it 
at  all,  and  in  fact  ignores  the  entire  school  of  Ennius.1 

2.    TJie  School  of  Lucilius. 

20.  At  the  hands  of  C.  Lucilius  the  satura  received  a  form 
which,  through  Horace's  recognition  of  it  as  a  standard,  be- 
came the  conventional  one.     After  experimenting  with  vari- 
ous metres,  he  finally  adopted  the  dactylic  hexameter,  and 
in  that  measure  the  greater  part  of  his  thirty  books  are 
composed.     To  the  subject-matter  also  Lucilius  gave  a  con- 
ventional form,  which,  though  variously  modified  by  his 
successors,  continued  to  be  regarded  as  characteristic  of  that 
class  of  writing. 

Lucilius  was  born  in  Suessa  Aurunca,  in  Campania,  in 
180  B.c.,*and.  died  in  103.  He  was  of  equestrian  rank,  and 
is  said  by^Forphyrio  to  have  been  a  grand-uncle  of  Pompey 
the  Great.  He  served  with  the  younger  Scipio  in  the  Nu- 
mantine  War,  and  was  afterwards  on  terms  of  familiar 
intimacy  with  his  commander  and  with  the  latter's  friend, 
Laelius.3 

21.  Lucilius  composed  thirty  books  of  satires,  which  ap- 
pear to  have  been  published  in  three  instalments,  xxvi.-xxx., 

1  See  note  on  jSerm.  i.  10.  47. 

2  Hieronymus  gives  the  date  of  his  birth  as  147  B.C.,  but  the  sugges- 
tion of  Haupt  is  very  probable,  and  has  been  generally  accepted,  that 
Hieronymus  confused  the  consuls  of  the  year  180,  A.  Postumius  Albinus 
and  C.  Calpurnius  Piso,  with  those  of  147,  Sp.  Postumius  Albinus  and 
L.  Calpurnius  Piso. 

8  See  Serm.  ii.  1.  71  ff. 


XX  THE   DEVELOPMENT  OF  ROMAN  SATIRE. 

xxii.-xxv.,  and  i.-xxi.  The  first  collection  was  composed  in 
various  metres,  the  last  two  in  hexameters. 

Of  the  work  of  Lucilius  only  a  comparatively  small  num- 
ber of  fragments  survive,  and  the  longest  continuous  passage 
consists  of  but  fourteen  lines.  Nevertheless,  from  these 
and  from  the  scattered  notices  of  the  grammarians,  some 
idea  of  their  contents  may  be  derived,  and  the  extent  of  Hor- 
ace's indebtedness  to  his  predecessor  may  be  inferred. 

Book  xxvi.,  which  was  the  first  in  order  of  publication, 
contained  a  justification  of  Satire,  an  account  of  the  Nu- 
maiitine  War,  and  an  erotic  satire.  Book  xxx.  also  treated 
of  the  nature  and  the  object  of  Satire,  and  literary  criticism 
seems  to  have  been  a  feature  of  this,  as  well  as  of  some  of 
the  other  books.  In  Book  ii.  a  suit  is  described,  which  was 
brought  by  T.  Albucius  against  Q.  Mucius  Scaevola,  on 
account  of  the  latter's  extortions  in  Asia.  Book  iii.  con- 
tained an  account  of  a  journey  from  Rome  to  the  Straits 
of  Messana,  on  which  Horace  modelled  the  fifth  Sermo  of 
his  first  book.  Book  iv.  included  a  discourse  on  gluttony, 
followed  by  Persius  in  his  third  satire.  Book  ix.  dealt  with 
literary  criticism  and  with  grammatical  questions,  in  par- 
ticular with  orthography.  Book  x.  inspired  Persius  to 
write  Satire,  and  Book  xiii.  seems  to  have  had  the  same 
theme  as  Horace's  Serm.  ii.  4.  Of  Book  xvi.  Porphyrio l 
says  :  liber  Lucilii  sextus  decimus  Collyra  inscribitur,  eo  quod 
de  Collyra  arnica  in  eo  scriptum  sit. 

22.  An  examination  of  the  existing  fragments  of  Lucilius 
confirms  Horace's  judgment  of  his  work,  as  given  in  Serm. 
i.  4  and  10,  and  in  ii.  1.  His  language  and  versification 
are  rude  and  unpolished,  not  only  when  judged  by  classical 
standards,  but  also  as  compared  with  the  earlier  writings  of 
Terence.  Munro2  regards  Horace's  estimate  of  him  as  far 

1  On  Hor.  Odes,  i.  22.  10.  2  Jour,  of  Phil.  vii.  p.  294. 


THE   DEVELOPMENT   OF  ROMAN  SATIRE.  xxi 

too  high,  '  raised  designedly,  not  to  excite  the  ill-will  of  his 
contemporaries.'  His  popularity  was,  however,  unquestion- 
ably great  in  ancient  times,  and  is  testified  to  by  Cicero, 
Quintilian,  and  Tacitus. 

23.  Horace  seems  to  have  written  at  first  along  the  lines 
followed  by  Lucilius,  to  judge  from  Serm.  i.  2.     This  style 
of  writing  did  not,  however,  accord  with  his  personal  dis- 
position, and  in  Serm.  i.  4  and  10 l  he  criticises  the  work  of 
his  predecessor  and  defines  his  own  ideal.     At  the  same 
time,  he  regarded  Lucilius  as  having  established  the  out- 
ward form  of  this  species  of  composition,  and  he  follows 
him  in  using  the  dactylic  hexameter,  ignoring  Varro's  re- 
turn  to    the    old-fashioned    medley.       While    deprecating 
Lucilius's  severity  in  invective,  he  follows  the  general  lines 
of  his  predecessor,  giving  us  experiences  from  his  own  life,2 
treating  ethical  problems,3  and  defining  his  literary  aims 
and  ideals.4 

24.  The  first  collection,  consisting  of  Serm.  i.,  was  pub- 
lished between  37  and  33  B.C.,  probably  in  the  year  35. 
The  title  appears  to  have  been  Sermones,5  or  '  Talks,'  while 
Satura  seems  to  be  a  general  designation  for  this  species  of 
composition  and  includes  the  Epistulae  as  well.6    The  book 

1  See  the  * Outlines.'        2  i.  5,  6,  7,  9.        »  i.  1,  2,  3.        4  i.  4,  10. 

6  See  Porph.  on  Serm.  i.  1,  Quamvis  saturam  esse  opus  hoc  suum 
Horatius  ipse  confiteatur,  cum  ait :  Sunt  quibus  in  satura  videar  nimis 
acer,  et  ultra  Legem  tendere  opus  (Serm.  ii.  1.  1-2),  tamen  proprios 
titulos  voluit  ei  accommodare.  Nam  hos  priores  duos  libros  '  Ser- 
monum,"1  posteriores  '  Epistularum  '  inscribens,  in  sermonum  nomine 
vult  intellegi  quasi  apud  praesentem  se  loqui,  epistulas  vero  quasi  ad 
absentes  missas.  In  this  book  the  terms  Satires  and  Satire  are  used  of 
the  Sermones  and  Epistulae  together  or  of  the  literary  satire  in  general. 
The  two  divisions  are  referred  to  separately  either  by  their  Latin  names, 
or  as  Sermones  and  Epistles. 

6  See  below,  p.  xxii. 


xxii        THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  ROMAN  SATIRE. 

begins  in  due  form  with  a  dedication  to  Maecenas,  and  the 
arrangement  of  the  separate  satires  is  a  natural,  though  not 
a  chronological  one,  and  may  well  be  the  one  chosen  by 
Horace  himself.  In  most  cases  the  poet  himself  appears  as 
the  speaker,1  although  considerable  dialogue  is  introduced. 
That  the  reception  given  to  this  work  was  not  altogether 
favorable,  is  shown  by  Horace's  own  words  in  the  intro- 
ductory satire  of  the  second  Book  of  Sermones,  which  seems 
to  have  been  published  in  30  B.C.  This  book  has  no  formal 
dedication  and  no  epilogue,  and  is  cast  for  the  most  part  in 
dialogue  form.  Horace  himself  plays  usually  a  very  sub- 
ordinate part,  and  in  one  satire  he  does  not  appear  at  all.2 
The  first  and  sixth  satires  are  of  a  personal  nature;  the 
former  is  a  dialogue  between  Horace  and  Trebatius,  the 
latter  practically  a  monologue,  although  it  is  assimilated  to 
the  other  works  of  the  collection  by  the  introduction  of 
Cervius  and  his  fable  of  the  town  and  the  country  mouse. 

25.  The  Epistulae  belong  to  the  general  class  of  Saturaef 
but  they  are  distinguished  from  the  Sermones  not  only  by 
their  form,  but  by  their  contents  as  well.  Hexameter  verse 
is  not  well  suited  to  dialogue,  and  Horace  evidently  pre- 
ferred to  adopt  a  new  literary  form,  the  poetic  epistle,  for 
his  saturae,  rather  than  to  abandon  the  conventional  metre. 

The  first  book  of  Epistulae  seems  to  have  been  issued  in 
20  B.C.  During  the  ten  years  which  had  elapsed  since  his 
last  venture  in  the  field  of  satire,  Horace  had  published 
three  books  of  Odes,  and  had  reached  the  age  of  forty-five. 
The  practical  philosophy  of  life  now  seems  to  him  the  thing 
most  worthy  of  his  attention,  and  it  is  to  the  teaching  of. 
this  that  his  first  book  of  Epistles  is  in  the  main  devoted. 

1  The  only  real  exception  is  i.  8.  2  ii.  5. 

8  See  above,  p.  xxi.,  and  Hendrickson's  Are  the  Letters  of  Horace 
Satires?  Amer.  Jour,  of  Phil,  xviii.  (1897),  pp.  313  ff. 


THE   DEVELOPMENT   OF   ROMAN   SATIRE.        xxiii 

It  is  dedicated  to  Maecenas  and  closes  with,  an  epilogue. 
It  consists  of  actual  letters  and  of  fictitious  ones.1 

The  second  book  of  Epistles  is  devoted  wholly  to  literary 
criticism.  Horace  has  renounced  the  writing  of  lyrics,  he 
tells  us,  and  will  hereafter  teach  the  art  of  poetry  instead 
of  practising  it.  The  chronology  of  this  book  offers  not  a 
few  difficulties.  The  second  Epistle  is  evidently  the  earliest 
and  may  be  placed  between  20  and  17  B.C. 

The  recognition  of  Horace  as  the  poet  laureate  of  Rome, 
by  the  invitation  to  write  the  Carmen  Saeculare,  gave  him  a 
very  different  position  before  the  public,  and  is  responsible 
for  the  assured  tone  of  the  De  Arte  Poetica,  originally  the 
third  letter  of  the  collection,  although  the  second  in  chrono- 
logical order.  It  is  assigned  with  most  probability  to  the 
year  16  B.C.  These  two  letters,  with  an  introductory  epistle 
in  which  the  collection  is  dedicated  to  Augustus,  appear  to 
have  been  published  in  14  B.C. 

26.  The  school  of  Lucilius  is  further  represented  by  the 
six  satires  of  A.  Persius  Flaccus  (34-62  A.D.)  of  Volaterrae  in 
Etruria.     He  was  a  diligent  reader  and  ardent  admirer  of 
Horace,  whose  language  he  frequently  paraphrases  in  his 
own  peculiar  style.     Also  by  the  sixteen  satires  of  D.  lunius 
luvenalis  (circ.  46-130  A.D.)  of  Aquinum. 

27.  Of   other  writers  of  satire,  evidently  of  the   school 
of  Lucilius,  Horace  expressly  mentions 2  P.  Terentius  Varro 
(82-37  B.C.)  of  Atax  in  Gallia  Narbonensis,  called  Atadnus 
to  distinguish  him  from  the  author  of  the  Saturae  Menippeae. 
No  fragments  of  his  satires  have  been  preserved,  although 
we  have  scanty  remains  of  an  epic,  the  Bellum  Sequanum, 
of  a  Chorographia,  and  of  an  Epliemeris. 

The  quibusdam  aliis  of   the   same  passage  may  refer  to 

1  E.g.  13  and  14.  2  Serm.  i.  10.  46. 


XXIV      GENERAL   CHARACTERISTICS   OF  THE   SATIRES. 

Saevius  Nicanor1  and  L.  Albucius,2  and  perhaps  to  others 
whose  very  names  have  been  lost. 

28.  A  decided  satiric  vein  is  found  in  many  Roman 
writers  whose  works  properly  belong  to  other  fields  of 
literature.  This  is  strikingly  the  case  with  Martial  and 
with  Tacitus.  The  latter's  Germania  has  often  erroneously 
been  supposed  to  have  been  designed  as  a  satire  on  Roman 
corruption  and  degeneracy.3 

The  work  of  Petronius  Arbiter,  of  the  time  of  Nero,  is 
pervaded  by  this  satiric  vein,  and  has  some  resemblance  to 
the  satire  of  the  school  of  Ennius  in  its  literary  form ;  but, 
like  the  Metamorphoses  of  Apuleius,  it  belongs  properly  to 
the  field  of  the  Romance. 


V. 
GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS  OF   THE    SATIRES. 

29.  Horace  expressly  states  that  the  model  of  his  Satires 
is  Lucilius,  and,  as  has  already  been  said,  this  is  confirmed 
by  a  comparison  of  the  two  works,  so  far  as  this  is  pos- 
sible. For  reminiscences  of  Lucilius,  see  the  Notes,  passim. 
Horace's  wide  reading,  both  in  the  Greek  literature  and  that 
of  his  native  land,  is  shown  by  numerous  passages.  His 
acquaintance  with,  and  admiration  for,  the  Homeric  poems 
are  directly  stated  in  Epist.  i.  2,  and  are  shown  besides  by 
frequent  allusions  to  the  heroes  and  events  of  the  Iliad  and 
the  Odyssey,  as  well  as  by  the  occurrence  of  phrases  and 
expressions  which  are  reminiscent  of  both  poems.  He 
must  have  been  a  diligent  reader  of  the  dramatic  writers 
both  of  Greece 4  and  of  Rome,  and  a  frequent  attendant  at 

1  Suet,  de  Gramm.  5.  2  Varro,  De  Re  Bust.  iii.  2.  7. 

3  See  Gudeman's  Germanic/,,  Introd.  p.  xi. 

4  See  Serm.  ii.  3.  11  f. 


GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS   OF  THE   SATIRES.      XXV 

the  theatre,  to  judge  from  his  numerous  references  to  the 
stage,  and  the  abundance  of  metaphors  derived  from  the 
drama.  Although  he  does  not  anywhere  mention  Lucretius, 
the  number  of  passages  which  show  a  parallelism  with  the 
De  Rerum  Natura  is  very  striking.  See  the  Notes,  passim. 

30.  As  Lucilius  had  evidently  done,1  Horace  gives  us  in 
his  Satires  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  .his  life  and  hab- 
its.    He  sketches  his  early  life  and  training,  and  pays  a 
well-deserved  tribute  to  his  father.    He  tells  us  of  his  friend- 
ships and  his  enmities,  his  successes  and  disappointments. 
As  a  rule  he  is  contented  with  his  lot,  although  it  is  clear 
that  the  envious  gossip  which  he  pretends  to  despise  and  the 
unfavorable  criticism  of  his  literary  work  were  not  without 
a  sting.     He  was  evidently  on  most  friendly  terms  with 
Virgil  and  Tibullus,  and  with  Varius  and  other  less  well- 
known  poets  of  the  day.     Propertius  he  never  mentions  by 
name,  and  while  there  is  no  evidence  at  all  that  the  '  bore ' 
of  Serm.  i.  9  is  Propertius,  there  is  an  evident  allusion  to 
him  in  Epist.  ii.  2.  95  ff.,  of  such  a  nature  as  to  show  that  he 
and  Horace  were  rivals  rather  than  friends. 

31.  One  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the  Satires  is  the 
keen  observation  of  the  daily  life  of  the  Romans  by  which 
they  are  characterized.    It  was  Horace's  custom,  he  tells  us, 
to  wander  about  the  city  and  to  observe  the  various  occupa- 
tions and  amusements  of  the  people.     This  he  turned   to 
account  by  drawing  from  them  lessons  for  his  own  guidance 
and  that  of  his  friends,  as  well  as  by  enlivening  his  lit- 
erary work  with  many  realistic  pictures  of  daily  life,  —  not 
only  that  of  the  higher  classes,  but  also  that  of  the  humbler 
artisans  and  the  slaves.     Quite  striking  is  the  impression 
which  the  vast  commercial  and  business  interests  of  Home 

1  See  Serm.  ii.  1.  32. 


xxvi  THE   SATIRES   IN   MODERN   TIMES. 

made  upon  him,  and  the  number  of  allusions  to  them  which 
are  found  in  his  works.1 

32.  The  Satires  are  characterized  by  a  genial  and  good- 
natured  humor.     This  appears  in  Horace's  choice  of  names 
for  the  objects  of  his  comment,  such  as  Novius,  the  parve- 
nue ;  Balbinus,  the  doting  lover ;  Porcius,  the  glutton ;  Opi- 
mius,  the  rich  man ;  and  the  like.      That  these  names  occur 
in  inscriptions  and  were  many  of  them  in  common  use  is  no 
proof  that  they  were  not  selected  (not  invented)  with  refer- 
ence to  their  appropriateness.     Other  phases  of  his  humor 
are  his  parody  of  the  epic,  and  higher  poetic,  style,  and  lan- 
guage under  ludicrously   inappropriate   circumstances,  his 
plays  upon  words,  and  his  coinage  of  new  terms,  his  irony 
and  sarcasm,  and  in  general  a  quizzical  way  of  looking  at 
things  and  an  eye  for  the  comical  side  of  life. 

VI. 
THE  SATIRES  IN  MEDIEVAL  AND  MODERN  TIMES. 

33.  Horace's  works,  as  he  himself  had  foreseen,  became 
school  text-books  at  an  early  period,  and  Suetonius  speaks 
of  elegies  and  a  letter  in  prose  which  were  falsely  attributed 
to  him.     The  number  of  commentators  on  his  works2  is  a 
further  testimony  to   his   popularity.     He   was   evidently 
extensively  read  in  medieval  times  as  well,  and  his  works 
were  used  for  purposes  of  instruction.     Numerous  imitators 
of  the  Satires  are  found  in  this  period.     Of  the  Ecbasis 
Captivi,  a   'beast-epic'  of  the  tenth  century,  a  fifth   part 
consists  of  centos  from  Horace.     The  satirist  Amarcius,  of 
the  eleventh  century,  made  extensive  use  of  Horace.     Al- 

1  See  Knapp,  Business  Life  as  seen  in  Horace,  Proc.  Amer.  Phil. 
Assoc.  xxix.,  p.  xliv. 

2  See  above,  p.  xiii  f. 


LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF   THE   SATIRES,    xxvii 

though  Horace's  fame  in  the  Middle  Ages  was  much  less 
than  that  of  Virgil,  he  too  was  regarded  as  a  magician,  and 
his  grave  was  held  in  honor.  These  were,  however,  purely 
local  manifestations  and  were  confined  to  Palestrina  and 
Venusia. 

34.  To  speak  here  fully  of  Horace's  popularity  and  influ- 
ence in  modern  times  is  out  of  the  question.     He  has  been 
probably  the  most  widely  read  and  admired  of  all  the  Roman 
poets,  and  has  appealed  to  men  of  the  most  widely  different 
tastes. 

Together  with  Juvenal,  his  influence  upon  French  satire, 
which  culminated  in  Boileau,  was  very  great,  while  the 
English  satirists,  Dry  den,  Butler,  Pope,  Swift,  Prior,  Gay, 
Congreve,  and  others,  show  many  evidences  of  the  influence 
of  Horace  or  Juvenal,  or  of  both. 

VII. 

THE  LANGUAGE  AND  STYLE  OF  THE  SATIRES.1 
1.  FORMS  AND  VOCABULARY. 

35.  a.  Archaisms  are  frequent:    e.g.   ausim,  i.   10.  48 ;2 
faxis,  ii.  3.  38 ;  ii.  6.  5 ;  ast,  i.  6.  125 ;  i.  8.  6 ;  duetto,  E.  i.  2. 
7 ;  ii.  2.  98 ;  autumat,  ii.  3.  45 ;  sodes,  i.  9.  41 ;  E.  i.  1.  62 ;  E. 
1.  7.  15;  licebit,  ii.  2.  59;  and  the  archaic  infinitive  in  -ier, 
which  occurs  five  times  in  the  Sermones  and  three  times 
in  the  Epistulae. 

1  The  examples  are  not  intended  to  be  exhaustive,  and  the  Introduc- 
tion as  a  whole  is  intended  to  be  suggestive  rather  than  complete.     In 
his  own  teaching  of  Horace  the  editor  is  in  the  habit  of  assigning 
topics,  such  as  are  briefly  touched  on  in  the  Introduction,  to  different 
members  of  the  class  for  special  study,  being  guided,  of  course,  in  his 
selection  by  the  degree  of  advancement  and  capacity  of  the  students. 

2  References  like  this  are  to  the  Sermones  ;  those  to  the  Epistulae 
are  in  the  form  E.  i.  2.  7. 


XXviii    LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF  THE   SATIRES. 

b.  Horace  frequently,  in  common  with,  other  Roman  poets, 
uses  the  simple  verb  in  place  of  a  compound :  e.g.  temnens 
=  contemnens,  i.  1.  116 ;  solvas  =  dissolvas,  i.  4.  60 ;  poni  = 
apponi,  ii.  3.  148 ;  ii.  4.  14 ;  ruam  =  eruam,  ii.  5.  22. 

c.  Some  borrowed  words  are  found :  e.g.  from  the  Greek, 
obsonia,  i.  2.  9 ;  hybrida,  i.  7.  2 ;  apotheca,  ii.  5.  7.     Celtic  or 
Germanic,  raeda,  i.  5.  86 ;  mannus,  E.  i.  7.  77.     Syrian,  anibu- 
baia,  i.  2.  1 ;  etc.     In  i.  10.  21,  seri  studiorum,  he  translates 
a  Greek  word ;  and,  like  many  other  Roman   writers,  he 
avoids  pliilosoplius  and  philosophia,  using  instead   sapiens 
and  sapientia. 

d.  Horace  coins  many  new  words :  e.g.  abnormis,  ii.  2.  3 ; 
ingustata,  ii.  8.  30 ;  inamarescere,  ii.  7.  107 ;  prodocere,  E.  j. 
1.  55. 

e.  Short  forms  of  the  verb,  contractions,  or  formations  of 
the  aorist  type,  occur  in  i.  9.  48,  summosses ;  i.  9.  62,  nosset; 
i.  9.  73,  surrexe;  ii.  3.  169,  divisse. 

36.  In  the  spelling,  the  Sermones  and  Epistles,  which 
reflect  the  language  of  everyday  life,  were  probably  less 
conservative  than  the  Odes,  and  the  editor  has  made  the 
orthography  conform,  in  the  main,  to  the  standard  of  the 
Augustan  age.  For  forms  and  spellings  especially  charac- 
teristic of  the  colloquial  language,  see  below,  §  55. 


2.   SYNTAX. 
a.    The  Cases. 

37.  The  vocative  is  used  in  place  of  a  direct  object  in : 
Matutine  pater,  sen  lane  libentius  audis,  ii.  6.  20;  rexque 
paterque  audisti  coram,  E.  i.  7.  37.  The  nominative  is  used 
for  the  vocative  in  Ars  Poet.  292,  o  Pompilius  sangius,  car- 
men reprehendite. 


LANGUAGE  AND   STYLE   OF  THE   SATIRES.       xxix 

38.  a.  The  accusative  is  found  with  some  verbs  which  do 
not  ordinarily  govern  a  direct  object:  e.g.  ut.apnim  cenem 
ego,  ii.  3.  234;  si  pranderet  holus,  E.  i.  17.  13;  census  eques- 
trem  summam,  Ars  Poet.  384 ;  neu  quid  medios  intercinat  actus, 
Ars  Poet.  194. 

b.  The  accusative  of  the  inner  object  (sometimes  called 
'  cognate  accusative  ')  is  frequent :  e.g.  reges  atque  tetrarchas, 
omnia  magna  loquens,  i.  3.  12 ;  Pythia  cantat,  Ars  Poet.  414. 
With  the  neuter  of  the  adjective :  cernis  acutum,  i.  3.  26 ; 
serviet  aeternum,  E.  i.  10.  41 ;  insanire  sollemnia,  E.  i.  i. 
101.    Some  bold  uses  of  the  construction  occur :  e.g.  pastorem 
saltaret  uti  Cyclopa,  i.  5.  63 ;  agrestem  Cyclopa  movetur,  E.  ii. 
2.  125 ;  cum  Ilionam  edormit,  ii.  3.  61 ;  magna  coronari  Olym- 
pia,  E.  i.  1.  50. 

c.  The  accusative  of  specification,  or  Greek  accusative, 
occurs  in  mentem  concussa,  ii.  3. 295 ;  curatus  capillos,  E.  i.  1. 94. 
Many  so-called  examples  of  this  construction  are  better  ex- 
plained in  other  ways.     Thus  we  have  appositives  in  nugas 
hoc  genus,  ii.  6.  44 ;  tremis  ossa  pavore  (partitive  apposition), 
ii.  7.  57 ;  the  accusative  of  the  inner  object  in  distat  nil,  ii. 
2.29. 

Passive  verbs  are  often  used  with  the  force  of  the  middle, 
and  govern  a  direct  object:  e.g.  nasum  nidore  supernor, 
ii.  7.  38 ;  purgor  bilem,  Ars  Poet.  302.  Here  we  may  put 
fractus  membra  labor  e,  i.  1.  5  although  membra  may  be  taken 
as  a  Greek  accusative,  and  fractus  as  passive. 

39.  a.  The  dative  is  used  with  verbs  meaning  <  contend/ 
'compare,'   and    the  like:    e.g.   certans  semper   melioribus, 
ii.  5.  19 ;  Sidonio  contendere  ostro  vellera,  E.  i.  10.  26 ;  dlter- 
cante  libidinibus  pavore,  ii.  7.  57. 

b.  The  so-called  dative  of  the  agent  is  used  not  only  with 
the  future  passive  participle,  but  with  the  perfect  parti- 
ciple :  Graecis  intacti  carminis,  i.  10.  66 ;  bella  tibi  pugnata, 


XXX       LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE  OF  THE   SATIRES. 

E.  i.  16.  25 ;  and  with  the  uncompounded  tenses :  carmina 
quae  scribuntur  aquae  potoribus,  E.  i.  19.  3. 

c.  The  dative  of  the  goal  occurs  in  si  quis  casus  puerum 
egerit  Oreo,  ii.  5.  49. 

d.  Constructions  influenced  by  the  analogy  of  the  Greek 
are :    idem  facit   occidenti,  Ars  Poet.  467 ;    dignis  paratus, 
E.  i.  7.  22 ;  Graecia  Barbariae  lento  collisa  duello,  E.  i.  2.  7. 
See  also  §  55.  g  below. 

e.  The  passive  of  verbs  governing  the  dative  is  used  with  a 
subject  in  the  nominative  (instead  of  the  impersonal  con- 
struction) in  imperor,  i.  5.  21 ;  invideor,  Ars  Poet.  56. 

40.  a.  The  genitive  is  used  with  adjectives  much  more 
freely  than  in  classical  prose.     The  extension  of  this  con- 
struction is  doubtless  due  to  the  analogy  of  the  Greek  geni- 
tive of  specification:    e.g.  pauperrimus  bonorum,  i.   1.  79; 
cerebri  felicem,  i.  9. 11 ;  pravi  docilis,  ii.  2.  52 ;  donandi  parca, 
ii.  5.  79. 

b.  The  genitive  with  verbs  and  adjectives  denoting  sepa- 
ration is  due  to  the  analogy  of  the  Greek :  e.g.  morbi  purga- 
tum  illius,  ii.  3.  27 ;  in  medio  positorum  abstemius,  E.  i.  12.  7. 

c.  Noteworthy  also  are:  the  free  use  of  the  genitive  of 
the  whole,  num  qua  vitiorum,  i.  3.  35;  fictis  rerum,  ii.  8.  83; 
gladiatorum  centum,  ii.  3.  85;  and  in  the  predicate,  operum 
hoc  tuorum  est,  i.  7.  35 ;  scribe  tui  gregis  hunc,  E.  i.  9.  13 ;  of 
the  appositive  genitive,  patrimoni  mitte  talenta,  ii.  3.  226; 
pueri  pulchri  munere,  E.  i.  18.  74 ;  and  nee  ciceris  nee  invidit 
avenae,  ii.  6.  84,  after  the  analogy  of  verbs  of  plenty. 

41.  a.  The   ablative  of   instrument  is  used  freely:    e.g. 
teneas  tuis  te,  ii.  3.  324;    ire  mulo,  i.  6.  105;  postico  falle 
clientem,  E.  i.    5.  31 ;    with   adjectives,   laeva  stomachosus 
habena,  E.  i.  15. 12 ;  sermo  lingua  concinnus  utraque,  i.  10.  23; 
in  place  of  the  ablative  of  agency  with  ab :  curatus  inaequali 


LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF  THE   SATIRES.      xxxi 

tonsore  capillos,  E.  i.  1.  94,  and  probably  cena  ministratur 
pueris  tribus,  i.  6.  116. 

b.  The  ablative  of  association  occurs  with,  verbs  of  join- 
ing, changing,  mixing,  and  the  like :  e.g.  verbis  Graeca  Latinis 
miscuit,  i.  10.  20 ;  stipare  Platona  Menandro,  ii.  3.  11 ;  forti 
miscebat  mella  Falerno,  ii.  4.  24. 

c.  The  participle  alone  is  used  in  the  ablative  absolute : 
e.g.  parto  quod  avebas,  i.  1.  94;   lecto  aut  scripto  quod  me 
iuvet,  i.  6.  122 ;  neglectis  Jlagitium  ingens,  ii.  4.  82 ;  vadato, 
i.  9.  36. 

42.  Not  infrequently  a  case  may  be  taken  in  a  different 
sense  with  two  words  in  the  same  sentence,  and  may  be 
said  to  be  governed  by  both  —  the  O.TTO  KOLVOV  construction : 
e.g.  quid  causae  est  merito  quin  illis  Juppiter  ambas  iratus  buccas 
inflet,  i.  1.  20 ;  male  laxus  in  pede  calceus  haeret,  i.  3.  31 ; 
tempestivum   pueris    concedere   ludum,   E.  ii.  2.    142 ;   data 
Romanis  venia  est.  indigna  poetis,  Ars  Poet.  264.     See  Notes. 

b.    Tlie  Verb. 

1.  AGREEMENT. 

43.  a.  A  singular  verb  is  used  with  a  compound  subject 
whose  members  are  singular :  dum  ficus  prima  calorque  dis- 
signatorem  decorat,  E.  i.  7.  5 ;   si  quaestor  avus  pater  atque 
meus  patruusque  fuisset,  i.  6.  131. 

b.  The  neuter  is  used  referring  to  a  person  in  nil  fuit 
umquam  sic  impar  sibi,  i.  3.  18 ;  quod  eram  narro,  i.  6.  60 ; 
nisi  quae  terris  semota  suisque  temporibus  defuncta  videt,  fas- 
tidit  et  odit,  E.  ii.  1.  21. 

2.  THE  TENSES. 

44.  a.  The  present  is  often  used  with  the  force  of  the 
future,  a  common  usage  in  the  language  of  everyday  life : 
e.g.  nemon  oleum  fert  ocius  ?  ii.  7.  34 ;  ut  te  ipsum  serves,  non 


xxxii       LANGUAGE   AND  STYLE   OF  THE   SATIRES. 

expergisceris?  E.  ii.  2.  33;  and  in  a  future  condition,  nisi 
damnose  bibimus,  moriemur  inulti,  ii.  8.  34.  It  has  almost  an 
aoristic  force  in  divinare  magnus  mihi  donat  Apollo,  ii.  5.  60. 

b.  The  imperfect  is  used  with  nearly  the  force  of  the 
present  in  non  tu  corpus  eras  sine  pectore,  E.  i.  4.  6 ;  poteras 
dixisse,  Ars  Poet.  328.     See  Notes  on  these  two  passages. 
The    epistolary   imperfect    occurs    in    liaec    tibi   dictabam, 
E.  i.  10.  49. 

c.  The   future  is  frequently   used  with  the  force  of  a 
milder  imperative:    e.g.  hoc  mihi  iuris  cum  venia  dabis,  i.  4. 
105;  ferramenta  Teanum  tolletis,  E.  i.  1.  87;  Augusto  reddes 
volumina,  E.  i.  13.  2.     It  has  a  gnomic  force  in  sordidus  a 
tenui  victu  distabit,  ii.  2.  53,  and  a  somewhat  similar  force  in 
ut  tu  semper  eris  derisor,  ii.  6.  54. 

d.  The  gnomic  perfect  is  frequent :  e.g.  non  domus  et  fun- 
dus  aegroto  domini  deduxit  corpore  febres,  E.  i.  2.  48;  sedit 
qui  timuit  ne  non  succederet,  E.  i.  17.  37  ;  and  combined  with 
the  future :  haec  seges  ingratos  tulit  et  feret  omnibus  annis,  E. 
i.  7.  21. 

e.  The  potential  perfect  subjunctive  is  often  used  with 
practically  the  same  force  as  the  present :  e.g.  dederim,  i.  4. 
39 ;  contulerim,  i.  5.  44 ;  dixeris,  i.  4.  41. 

/.  The  perfect  infinitive  is  used  with  the  force  of  the 
present  in  ii.  3.  187,  ne  quis  humasse  velit  Aiacem.  Usually, 
however,  while  approaching  the  force  of  the  present,  it  rep- 
resents instantaneous  or  completed  action :  e.g.  amet  scrip- 
sisse  ducentos  ante  cibum  versus,  i.  10.  60 ;  sapientia  prima 
stultitia  caruisse,  E.  i.  1.  42 ;  quod  cures  proprium  fecisse,  E. 
i.  17.  5. 

3.  THE  MOODS. 

45.  a.  The  indicative  is  used  for  vividness  in  the  apod- 
osis  of  conditions  contrary  to  fact :  dedisses  .  .  .  erat,  i.  3. 
17 ;  per  earn  male  si  non  optimum  erat,  ii.  1.  7. 

b.   The  indicative  is  sometimes  used  with  quamvis :   e.g. 


LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF   THE   SATIRES,     xxxiii 

quamvis  tacet,  i.  3.  129 ;  quamvis  distat  nil,  ii.  2.  29 ;  quam- 
vis  periurus  erit,  ii.  5.  15. 

c.  The  indicative  is  sometimes  used  after  est  qui  and  simi- 
lar expressions,  though  usually  with  a  slightly  different 
force  from  that  of  the  subjunctive ;  c/.  E.  ii.  2.  182,  sunt  qui 
non  habeant,  est  qui  non  curat  habere. 

d.  The  relatively  rare  '  can '  and  '  could '  potential,  con- 
fined to  the  second  person  singular  of  verbs  of  seeing,  per- 
ceiving, thinking,  knowing,  and  believing,  is  found  in  i.  4. 
86,  saepe  tribus  lectis  videos  cenare  quaternos;    and  trans- 
posed to  past  time  in  i.  5.  76,  videres;  ii.  8.  77,  videres. 
See  Bennett,  'Critique  of  Some  Recent  Subjunctive  Theo- 
ries/ Cornell  Studies  in  Class.  Phil.  ix.  pp.  41  ff. 

e.  The  stipulative  subjunctive  is  found  in  i.  8.  12,  mille 
pedes  in  fronte,  trecentos  cippus  in  agrum,  hie  dabat,  heredes 
monumentum  ne   sequeretur;    Ars    Poet.    12,   hanc   veniam 
damus,  sed  non  ut  placidis  coeant  immitia,  non  ut  serpentes 
avibus  geminentur,  tigribus  agni;  E.  i.  18.  107,  sit  mihi  quod 
nunc  est,  etiam  minus,  ut  mihi  vivam,  quod  superest  aevi. 
See  Bennett,  Trans.  Amer.  Phil.  Assoc.  xxxi.  pp.  223  ff. 

/.  The  iterative  subjunctive  occurs  in  Ars  Poet.  438,  Quin- 
tilio  si  quid  recitares,  '  corrige,  sodes,'  aiebat. 

46.  a.  The  infinitive  occurs  freely  with  adjectives  where 
other  constructions  would  be  used  in  classical  prose:  e.g. 
dignus  notari,  i.  3.  24 ;  durus  componere  versus,  i.  4.  8 ; 
pigerferre  laborem,  i.  4.  12;  doctus  cantare,  i.  10.  19 ',  cereus 
in  vitium  Jlecti,  Ars  Poet.  163. 

b.  The  infinitive  is  used  in  exclamations :  huncine  solem 
tarn  nigrum  surrexe  mihi  !  i.  9.  73 ;  te  petere  !  ii.  2.  30 ;  tene 
ut  ego  accipiar  torquerier  !  ii.  8.  67. 

c.  The    historical    infinitive   is    occasionally   used:    e.g. 
pueris  convicia  nautae  ingerere,  i.  5. 12 ;  ire  modo  ocius,  inter- 
dum  consistere  .  .  .  dicere,  i.  9.  9. 


xxxiv      LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF   THE   SATIRES. 

d.  The  infinitive  is  used  freely  as  the  subject  and  object 
of  verbs,  and  governed  by  the  preposition  praeter :  e.g.  quo 
tibi,  Tilli,  sumere  clavum,  i.  6.  24 ;  inquiram,  quid  sit  furere, 
ii.  3.  41 ;  res  gerere  et  captos  ostendere  civibus  hostes  attingit 
solium  lovis,  E.  i.  17.  33 ;  dum  tantundem  haurire  relinquas, 
i.  1.  52;  adimam  cantare  sevens,  E.  i.  19.  9;  nihil  sibi  legatum 
praeter  plorare,  ii.  5.  69. 

47.  The  future  participle  is  very  freely  used  to  denote 
intention,  destiny,  and  similar  ideas.     It  is  usually  best 
translated  by  a  relative  clause  or  by  an  independent  clause : 
e.g.  quattuor  him  rapimur  milia,  mansuri  oppidulo  (intention), 
i.  5.  86 ;  redis  mutatae  frontis,  ut  arte  emendaturus  fortunam, 
ii.  8.  85 ;  his  me  consolor,  victurum  suavius  ac  si  (destiny), 
i.  6. 130  ;  i  pede  fausto,  grandia  laturus  praemia  (and  you  will 
receive),  E.  ii.  2.  37 ;  arma  Caesaris  Augusti  non  responsura 
lacertis  (which  were  fated  not  to  respond},  E.  ii.  2.  48;  segetes 
moxfrumenta  daturas  (which  will  presently  give),  E.  ii.  2.  161. 

c.    Other  Parts  of  Speech. 

48.  a.  The  usage,  hie  .  .  .  hie  for  hie  .  .  .  ille,  found  chiefly 
in  poetry,  is  frequent :  e.g.  hunc  atque  hunc  superare  laborat, 
i.  1.  112 ;    hoc  amet,  hoc  spernat,  Ars  Poet.  45 ;  haec  amat 
obscurum,  volet  haec  sub  luce  videri,  Ars  Poet.  363.     Horace, 
like  most  of  the  other  poets,  seldom  uses  is,  either  omitting 
it  entirely  or  using  a  demonstrative  pronoun  as  a  substitute 
for  it.     A  very  rare  poetic  use  of  the  pronominal  adverb 
occurs  in  ii.  2.  75,  hac  rabiosa  fugit  canis,  hac  lutulenta  ruit 
sus. 

Hie  has  about  the  force  of  talis,  a  man  like  that,  in  E.  i.  6. 
40,  nefueris  hie  tu;  E.  i.  15.  42,  nimirum  hie  ego  sum.  Simi- 
larly, ille  in  i.  1.  63,  quid  facias  illi.1 

1  See  Meader,  The  Latin  Pronouns  is :  hie :  iste  :  ipse.  The  Mac- 
millan  Company,  1901. 


LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF  THE   SATIRES.       XXXV 

b.  The  forms  of  the  relative  and  interrogative  from  the 
i-stem  are  sometimes  used  in  the  ablative  singular,  and  in 
the  dative-ablative  plural:  e.g.  qui,    i.  1.  1  ;  quis,  i.  3.  96, 
etc.      Cum  always  precedes  the  ablative  of  the  relative  pro- 
noun, instead  of  being  used  as  an  enclitic :  e.g.  eorum  vixi 
cum  quibus,  i.  4.  81. 

c.  The  plural  utrique  is  used  in  i.  8.  25  of  a  closely  con- 
nected pair  of  individuals.     Unus  is  used  for  quidam  in  i. 

5.  21.     See  also  §  55.  /,  below. 

49.  a.    Adjectives  are  frequently  used  to  denote  the  effect 
produced :  e.g.  tarda  podagra,  i.  9.  32 ;  plumbeus  Auster,  ii. 

6.  18 ;  exsangue  cuminum,  E.  i.  19.  18. 

b.   Adjectives  are  frequently  used  as  substantives:  — 

1.  Without  an  ellipsis,  the  meaning  of  the  substantive 
being  determined  by  the  gender  of  the  adjective :  e.g.  diversa 
sequentis,  i.  i.  3;  iocularia,  i.  1.  23;  avidos  aegros,  i.  4.  126. 
Contrary  to  the  usage  of  the  best  prose,  both  pronouns  and 
adjectives  are  used  as  substantives  in  oblique  cases  where 
the  gender,  and  consequently  the  meaning,  is  ambiguous : 
e.g.  his  ego  quae  nunc,  olim  queue,  scripsit  Lucilius,  eripias  si 
(  =  his  rebus),  i.  4.  56;  turpi  secernis  honestum,  i.  6.  63 ;  maiore 
reprensis,  i.  10.  55.     In  the  first  case  there  is  no  question  as 
to  the  interpretation,  but  in  the  last  two  some  editors  see 
masculine  substantives,  others  neuters. 

2.  With  ellipsis  of  a  substantive.     Here  the  meaning  of 
the  new  substantive  is  determined  by  the  omitted  word, 
although  there  is  not  always  a  consciousness  of  the  ellipsis : 
e.g.  venalis  (sc.  servos),  i.  1.  47;  Appia  (via),  i.  5.  6;  recta 
(via),  i.  5.  71 ;  Atabulus  (ventus),  i.  5.  78 ;  ferae  (bestiae), 
i.  8.  17;  secundas  (partes),  i.  9.  46;  impenso  (pretio),  ii.  3. 
245 ;  limis  (oculis),  ii.  5.  53 ;  agninae  (carnis),  E.  i.  15.  35. 

50.  Numerals  are  frequently  used,  not  in  their  literal 
sense,  but  of  indefinite  large  or  small  numbers,  as  in  Eng- 


xxxvi     LANGUAGE  AND   STYLE  OF  THE   SATIRES. 

lish  we  say  ( hundreds'  or  ' thousands  of,'  'half  a  dozen/ 
and  the  like.  For  an  indefinite  large  number  mille  is  most 
frequent :  e.g.  mille  versus,  ii.  1.  4;  quot  capitum  vivunt,  toti- 
dem  studiorum  milia,  ii.  1.  27 ;  cf.  ii.  3.  116.  Examples  of 
other  numerals  used  in  this  way  are :  saepe  ducentos,  saepe 
decem  servos,  i.  3.  11 ;  plostra  ducenta,  i.  6.  42 ;  trecentos 
inserts,  i.  5.  12;  and  combined  with  mille:  Catienis  mille 
dueentis  clamantibus,  ii.  3.  61 ;  ter  centum  milibus,  ii.  3.  16. 
Of  indefinite  small  numbers  we  have :  decem  vitiis,  E.  i. 
18.  25 ;  decem  servos,  i.  3.  12 ;  quinque  dies,  E.  i.  7.  1 ;  tribus 
Anticyris,  Ars  Poet.  300.  See  Notes. 

51.  a.  The  adverb  is  frequently  used  to  modify  esse :  e.g. 
recte  tibi  semper  erunt  res,  ii.  2.  106 ;  bene  erat  non  piscibus 
urbe  petitis,  ii.  2.  120 ;  recte  est,  ii.  3. 162 ;  pulchre  fuerit  tibi, 
ii.  8.  19. 

b.  The  following  uses  are  also  noteworthy :  fautor  inepte 
est,  i.  10.  2 ;  male  laxus,  i.  3.  31  (see  above,  §  42) ;  turpiter 
hirtum,  E.  i.  3.  22 ;  turpiter  atrum,  Ars  Poet.  3. 

3.   WORD  ORDER. 

52.  In  spite  of  the  trammels  of  metre,  abundant  scope  is 
allowed  in  poetry  for  effective  word  order,  and  of  this  Horace 
takes  the  fullest  advantage.    Words  are  emphasized  by  being 
put  out  of  their  normal  position ;  for  most  words  the  begin- 
ning or  the  end  of  lines  and  of  clauses  are  emphatic  posi- 
tions.     Anaphora,    chiasmus,   antithesis,   and    hyperbaton 
serve  the  same  purpose.     Considerations  of  space  make  it 
impossible  to  go  into  details.     See  the  Notes,  passim. 

4.   FIGURES  OF  KHETORIC  AND  GRAMMAR. 

53.  The   following   may  be   mentioned :    a.  Asyndeton : 
e.g.  contentus  vivat,  laudet  diversa  sequentis,  i.  1.  3. 

b.   Anaphora :  non  ego  me  claro  natum  patre,  non  ego  cir- 


LANGUAGE   AND   STYLE   OF  THE   SATIRES.       xxxvii 

cum  .  .  .  i.  6.  58 ;  aeque  pauperibus  prodest,  locupletibus  aeque 
(combined  with  chiasmus),  E.  i.  1.  25. 

c.  Anacoluthon :    nam  ut  ferula  caedas  .   .   .  non  vereor, 
i.  3.  122  (see  the  Notes).     Closely  allied  are  combinations 
of  two  constructions :   e.g.  esse  pares  res  furta  latrociniis, 
i.  3.  122 ;  saepe  velut  qui  currebat  fugiens  hostem,  i.  3.  9 ; 
animae  quales  neque  candidiores  terra  tulit,  i.  5.  41.     See  the 
Notes  on  these   passages.     Cf.  also  the   loose  appositives, 
garrulus,  i.  4.  12 ;  sermo  merus}  i.  4.  48. 

d.  Brachylogy :    magnis  parva  mineris   falce   recisurum 
simili,  i.  3.  122 ;  cui  non  conveniet  sua  res,  ut  calceus  olim,  si 
pede  maior  erit,  subvertet,  si  minor,  uret,  E.  i.  10.  42.     See 
Notes. 

e.  Chiasmus :  stultus  honores  dot  indignis  et  famae  servit 
ineptus,  i.   6.  16;    hinc  vos,   vos   hinc,   i.   1.    17;   numquam 
inducant  animum  cantare  rogati,  iniussi  numquam  desistunt 
(combined  with  anaphora),  i.  3.  2. 

/.  Hendiadys :  operum  primos  vitaeque  labores,  ii.  6.  21 ; 
dolor  quod  suaserit  et  mens,  E.  i.  2.  60 ;  veniam  somnumque, 
E.  i.  5.  10. 

g.  Hyperbaton :  di  bene  fecerunt  inopis  me  quodque  pusilli 
finxerunt  animi,  i.  4.  17;  quattuor  hinc  rapimur  viginti  et 
milia  raedis,  i.  5.  86 ;  incertus  scamnum  faceretne  Priapum, 
i.  8.  2;  Aiax  immeritos  cum  occidit  desipit  agnos,  ii.  3.  211. 

h.  Hypallage :  non  me  Satureiano  vectari  rura  caballo, 
i.  6.  59. 

i.  Litotes :  non  inultus,  i.  8.  44 ;  nee  non  verniliter  ipsis 
fungitur  officiis,  ii.  6.  108 ;  haud  ignobilis,  E.  ii.  2.  128. 

k.   Metonymy :  Volcano,  i.  5.  73 ;   Venerem,  E.  ii.  2.  56. 

1.  Oxymoron :  strenua  inertia,  E.  i.  11.  28 ;  concordia  dis- 
cors,  E.  i.  12.  19 ;  Stertinium  deliret  acumen,  E.  i.  12.  20 ; 
symphonia  discors,  Ars  Poet.  374. 

ra.  Pleonasm  :  verbumnon  amplius  addam,  i.  1. 121 ;  nimio 
plum,  E.  ii.  1.  198. 


XXXviii     COLLOQUIAL   LANGUAGE   IN   THE   SATIRES. 

n.  Prolepsis :  quid  premat  obscurum  lunae  orbem,  E.  i.  12. 
18. 

o.  Tmesis :  argento  post  omnia  ponas,  i.  1.  86 ;  quando- 
cumque,  i.  9.  33;  unde-octoginta,  ii.  3.  117;  quo-circa,  ii.  6. 
95. 

p.  Zeugma:  dum  terras  hominumque  colunt  genus,  E.  ii. 
1.  7. 

q.  Metaphors  and  similes  are  very  numerous.  It  is  char- 
acteristic of  Horace's  style  that  in  the  latter  he  identifies  the 
person  or  thing  with  that  with  which  it  is  compared.  See 
note  on  Tantalus,  i.  1.  68. 

r.  Of  other  rhetorical  devices  may  be  mentioned :  quid 
rides,  i.  1.  69;  horum  pauperrimus  esse  bonorum,  i.  1.  79; 
immo  alia  et  fortasse  minora,  i.  3.  20 :  donent  tonsore,  ii.  3. 17 ; 
nocturno  certare  mero,  putere  diurno,  E.  i.  19.  11. 

VIII. 
THE  COLLOQUIAL  LANGUAGE  IN  THE  SATIRES. 

54.  Beside  the  literary  language  in  the  classical  period, 
we  find  also  the  sermo  familiaris  or  sermo  cotidianus,  the 
language  used  by  educated  Romans  in  the  ordinary  conver- 
sation of  every -day  life,  and  the  sermo  plebeius  or  sermo  rus- 
ticus,  the  language  of  the  common  people.1  Of  the  former 
we  have  representatives  in  the  classical  literature  in  the 
Letters  of  Cicero,  and  in  the  Sermones,  and,  to  a  less  marked 
degree,  in  the  Epistles  of  Horace.  In  early  Latin,  the  plays 
of  Terence  belong  to  the  same  class,  while  in  those  of  Plau- 
tus  we  have  a  combination  of  the  sermo  cotidianus  and 
the  sermo  plebeius.  It  is  not  always  easy  to  distinguish 
between  the  sermo  cotidianus  and  the  sermo  plebeius,  or  to 
distinguish  what  is  colloquial  from  what  is  merely  archaic ; 

1  See  Cooper's  Word  Formation  in  the  Roman  Sermo  Plebeius,  Introd. 


COLLOQUIAL  LANGUAGE   IN   THE   SATIRES,     xxxix 

but  the  following  features  may  safely  be  said  to  be  charac- 
teristic of  the  language  of  every-day  life  :  — 

55.  a.  Vocabulary.  We  find  in  the  Satires  a  goodly  num- 
ber of  words  which  were  current  in  every-day  conversation, 
but  not  in  the  literary  language.  In  many  cases  these  words 
eventually  displaced  the  literary  words  and  took  their  place 
in  the  Romance  languages :  e.g.  caballus,  French  cheval,  Ital- 
ian cavallo.  Such  words  as  French  equitation,  and  the  like, 
are  so-called  '  learned  words/  i.e.  they  did  not  come  into  the 
language  by  direct  descent,  but  were  formed  from  classical 
Latin  words  in  the  same  way  that  our  '  telephone/  '  phono- 
graph/ etc.,  are  formed  from  Greek.  As  examples  of  col- 
loquial words  may  be  cited:  bucca,  i.  1.  21 ;  caballus,  i.  6.  59 ; 
i.  6. 103 ;  E.  i.  7.  88  ;  E.  i.  18.  36  ;  elutius,  ii.  4. 16  ;  ocreatus,  ii. 
3.  234 ;  autumare,  ii.  3.  45 ;  scabere,  i.  10.  71 ;  largiter,  i.  4. 132. 

Many  words  which  are  not  in  themselves  colloquial  are 
used  in  colloquial  senses :  e.g.  latraverit,  ii.  1.  85 ;  extuderit, 
ii.  2.  14;  eripiam,  ii.  2.  23;  radere,  ii.  4.  83. 

b.  Certain  forms  are  also  colloquial :  e.g.  the  archaisms 
faxis,  ausim,  sodes,  etc.  (see  above,  §  35.  a.) ;  the  full  forms, 
exclusus  fuero,  i.  9.  58;  iniecta  fuerit,  i.  4.  95;  the  iteratives 
and  intensives,  captat,  i.  1.  68;  imperitarent,  i.  6.  4;  grassare, 
ii.  5.  93 ;  the  syncopated  forms,  caldior,  i.  3.  53 ;  valdius,  E. 
i.  9.  6 ;  the  contracted  verb  forms  (see  §  35.  e,  above) ;  and 
perhaps  also  in  some  cases  the  use  of  the  simple  verb  for 
the  coinpound  (see  §  35.  b,  above). 

c.  Many  colloquial  phrases  occur:  e.g.  si  me  amas,  i.  9. 
38 ;  unde  et  quo  Catius,  ii.  4.  1 ;  quid  agis,  dulcissime  rerum, 
i.  9.  4 ;  numquid  vis,  i.  9.  6 ;  cf.  the  use  of  the  adverb  with 
esse,  §  51.  a,  above. 

d.  Ellipsis.     While  the  grammatical  construction  requires 
us  to  supply  something,  as  a  rule  no  ellipsis  is  consciously 
present  to  the  speaker's  mind:  e.g.  unde  mihi  lapidem?  ii.  7. 


xl  COLLOQUIAL   LANGUAGE   IN  THE   SATIRES. 

116;  unde  et  quo  Catius,  ii.  4.  1.  Especially  characteristic 
is  the  ellipsis  of  a  subjunctive  copula :  e.g.  i.  8.  32. 

See  also  §  49.  b,  above. 

e.  The  free  use  of  diminutives.  In  many  cases  these  have 
supplanted,  in  the  Romance  languages,  the  word  from  which 
they  were  derived  :  e.g.  auricula,  French  oreille.  Horace  uses 
many  diminutives;  in  some  cases  they  have  actual  diminu- 
tive force,  as  parvola,  i.  1.  33 ;  villula,  i.  5.  45 ;  plostello,  ii.  3. 
247.  In  some  cases  they  denote  possession  or  the  like,  as 
lectulus,  i.  4.  133 ;  pelliculam,  ii.  5.  38 ;  often  affection,  as 
catelle,  ii.  3.  259 ;  matercula,  E.  i.  7.  7 ;  nutricula,  E.  i.  4.  8 ; 
frequently  contempt  or  depreciation,  as  popello,  E.  i.  7.  65 ; 
litterulis  graecis,  E.  ii.  2.  7 ;  asellus,  i.  1.  90.  In  other  cases 
they  appear  to  have  no  force  which  is  ordinarily  associated 
with  diminutives,  although  the  choice  of  the  word  produces 
a  certain  comic  effect :  e.g.  auriculas,  i.  9.  20 ;  auriculis,  E.  i. 
81.6;  gemelli,  E.  i.  10.  3. 

/.  The  frequent  expression  of  the  first  and  second  personal 
pronouns :  e.g.  cum  tu  argento  post  omniaponas,  i.  1.  86 ;  post 
lianc  vagor,  aut  ego  lecto  .  .  .  unguor,  i.  6.  122  (the  position 
of  ego,  etc.,  with  the  second  verb  is  a  favorite  use  of  Hor- 
ace's) :  and  such  redundant  expressions  as  utrumne,  ii.  3. 
251 ;  ii.  6.  73 ;  and  the  like.  See  also  §  53.  m,  above.  Para- 
phrases for  the  first  personal  pronoun :  hunc  hominem,  i.  9. 
47 ;  noster,  ii.  6.  48.  The  use  of  the  so-called  ethical  dative : 
quid  milii  Celsus  agit,  E.  i.  3.  15. 

g.  The  frequent  use  of  the  paratactic  construction:  e.g. 
milia  frumenti  tua  triverit  area  centum,  non  tuns  hoc  capiet 
venter  phis  ac  meus,  i.  1.  45 ;  deciens  centena  dedisses :  quin- 
que  diebus  nil  erat  in  loculis,  i.  3.  15;  scribe  decem  a  Nerio; 
non  est  satis;  adde  Cicuti  nodosi  tabulas  decem;  effugiet 
tamen,  ii.  3.  69;  non  es  avarus;  abi,  E.  ii.  2.  205. 

h.  Pleonasm,  anacoluthon,  and  alliteration.  See  §  53. 
c,  m,  above,  and  §  58  below. 


METRES.  xli 

i.  Proverbs  and  proverbial  expressions  :  stans  pede  in  uno, 
i.  4.  10 ;  in  silvam  ligna  /eras,  i.  10.  34 ;  hac  urget  lupus,  hac 
cam's,  ii.  2.  64 ;  ignem  gladio  scrutare,  ii.  3.  276 ;  etc.  And  the 
frequent  allusions  to  fables. 

k.  Plays  upon  words :  saccis  .  .  .  sacris,  i.  1.  70-71 ; 
libettos,  i.  4.  66  and  71 ;  mordacem  Cynicum,  E.  i.  17.  18 ; 
ventoso  curru,  E.  ii.  1.  177. 

IX. 

METRES. 
INTRODUCTORY. 

GENERAL    CHARACTER    OF    LATIN    POETRY. 

English  poetry,  as-»a  rule,  is  based  on  stress,  i.e.  on  a 
regular  succession  of  accented  and  unaccented  syllables. 
The  versification  of  — 

This  is  the  forest  primeval,  the  murmuring  pines  and  the  hemlocks, 
depends  entirely  upon  this  alternation  of  accented  and  un- 
accented syllables,  and  the  same  thing  is  true  of  all  ordi- 
nary English  verse.  This  basis  of  English  poetry,  moreover, 
is  a  result  of  the  very  nature  of  the  English  language. 
Like  all  languages  of  the  Teutonic  group,  our  English 
speech  is  characterized  by  a  strong  word-accent. 

Latin  verse,  on  the  other  hand,  was  based  on  quantity; 
a  line  of  Latin  poetry  consisted  of  a  regular  succession  of 
long  and  short  syllables,  i.e.  of  syllables  which  it  took  a 
long  or  short  time  to  pronounce.  This  basis  of  Latin 
poetry,  as  in  the  case  of  English  poetry,  is  strictly  in  con- 
formity with  the  character  of  the  spoken  language;  for 
classical  Latin  was  not  a  language  in  which  there  was  a 
strong  word-accent.  The  word-accent,  in  fact,  must  have 
been  extremely  weak.  Different  languages  differ  very 
greatly  in  this  respect,  and  we  ought  to  bear  this  fact  in 


xlii  METRES. 

mind  in  thinking  of  Latin.  In  Latin,  word-accent  was  so 
weak  that  it  could  not  be  made  the  basis  of  versification  as 
it  is  in  English,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  quantity  was  a 
strongly  marked  feature  of  the  spoken  language.  Thus  we 
see  how  it  came  about  that  quantity  was  made  the  basis  of 
Latin  verse,  and  why  accent  was  not. 

We  are,  then,  to  conceive  of  a  line  of  Latin  poetry  as 
consisting  simply  of  a  regular  arrangement  of  long  and 
short  syllables  —  nothing  else.  To  read  Latin  poetry, 
therefore,  it  is  necessary  simply  to  pronounce  the  words 
with  the  proper  quantity.  This  takes  some  patience  and 
practice,  but  it  is  easily  within  the  power  of  every  pupil  of 
Latin  who  can  read  Latin  prose  with  quantitative  accuracy. 
It  is  in  Latin  as  in  English :  any  one  who  can  read  prose 
with  accuracy  and  fluency  has  no  difficulty  in  reading 
poetry.  The  poet  arranges  the  words  in  such  wise  that 
they  make  poetry  of  themselves,  if  they  are  only  properly 
pronounced.  No  other  kind  of  poetry  was  ever  known  in 
any  language.  No  other  is  easily  conceivable. 

Of  course  it  necessarily  takes  time  for  the  student's  ear 
to  become  sensitive  to  quantitative  differences  and  to  ac- 
quire a  feeling  for  the  quantitative  swing  of  Latin  verse. 
Yet,  with  patience  and  abundant  practice  in  careful  pro- 
nunciation, the  quantitative  sense  is  bound  to  develop. 

ICTUS. 

Two  views  of  ictus  are  held.  According  to  one  view, 
ictus  is  a  stress  accent.  This  makes  Latin  verse  accentual, 
precisely  like  English  poetry.  According  to  the  other  view, 
ictus  is  merely  the  quantitative  prominence  inherent  in 
the  long  syllable  of  every  fundamental  foot,  —  the  iambus, 
trochee,  dactyl,  and  anapaest.1 

1  The  full  discussion  of  this  view  of  ictus  may  be  found  in  the 
American  Journal  of  Philology,  vol.  xix.  No.  76. 


METRES.  xliii 

WORD-ACCENT. 

In  reading  Latin  poetry,  the  ordinary  accent  of  the  words 
should  not  be  neglected.  But,  as  we  have  already  seen 
above  (p.  xxv),  the  word-accent  in  Latin  was  exceedingly 
slight.  We  almost  invariably  accent  Latin  words  altogether 
too  strongly.  As  a  result  we  destroy  the  quantity  of  the 
remaining  syllables  of  a  word.  Thus,  in  a  word  like  evl- 
tabatur,  we  are  inclined  to  stress  the  penultimate  syllable 
with  such  energy  as  to  reduce  the  quantity  of  the  vowel  in 
each  of  the  three  preceding  syllables.  In  this  way  the 
pupil  says  e-vl-ta-ba-tur.  Such  a  pronunciation  is  a  fatal 
defect  in  reading.  What  we  ought  to  do  is  to  make  the 
quantity  prominent  and  the  accent  very  slight.  Where 
this  is  done,  the  accent  will  be  felt  to  be  subordinate  to  the 
quantity,  as  it  ought  to  be,  and  as  it  must  be  if  one  is  ever 
to  acquire  a  feeling  for  the  quantitative  character  of  Latin 
poetry.  If  the  quantity  is  not  made  more  prominent  than 
the  accent,  the  accent  is  bound  to  be  more  prominent  than 
the  quantity,  which  will  be  fatal  to  the  acquisition  of  a 
quantitative  sense  for  the  verse. 

SPECIAL     CAUTIONS    TO    BE    OBSERVED     IN    ORDER   TO    SECURE 
CORRECT    SYLLABIC    QUANTITY    IN    READING. 

Inasmuch  as  Latin  poetry  was  based  on  the  quantity  of 
syllables,  it  is  obvious  that  the  greatest  care  must  be  taken 
in  the  pronunciation  of  the  words  with  a  view  to  securing 
an  absolutely  correct  syllabic  quantity.  Otherwise  the 
metrical  (i.e.  quantitative)  character  of  the  verse  is  violated, 
and  the  effect  intended  by  the  poet  is  lost.  To  ignore  the 
proper  quantity  of  the  syllables  is  as  disastrous  in  a  line  of 
Latin  poetry  as  it  would  be  in  English  poetry  to  misplace 
the  word-accent.  If  one  were  to  read  the  opening  line  of 
Longfellow's  Evangeline,  for  example,  as  follows  :  — 
This  is  the  forest  prfnaeval 


xliv  METRES. 

the  result  would  be  no  more  fatal  than  to  read  a  line  of 
Latin  poetry  with  neglect  of  the  quantity. 

In  reading  Latin  verse,  there  are  two  classes  of  errors  to 
which  the  student  is  particularly  liable,  either  one  of  which 
results  in  giving  a  wrong  syllabic  quantity. 

Class  First. 
In  '  Open '  1  Syllables 

Here  the  quantity  of  the  syllable  is  always  the  same  as 
the  quantity  of  the  vowel.  Thus,  in  ma-ter,  the  first  syllable 
is  long ;  in  pa-ter,  the  first  syllable  is  short. 

This  being  so,  it  is  imperative  that  the  pupil  should  in 
'open'  syllables  scrupulously  observe  the  quantity  of  the 
vowel.  If  he  pronounces  a  short  vowel  long,  or  a  long 
vowel  short,  he  thereby  gives  a  false  quantity  to  the  syl- 
lable, and  thus  wrecks  the  line  completely.  The  pupil, 
therefore,  must  know  the  quantity  of  every  vowel,  and 
must  pronounce  in  the  light  of  his  knowledge.  He  must 
not  say  gero,  tero,  sero  (for  gerd,  tero,  sero) ;  nor  must  he 
say  pater,  ager,  nisi,  quod,  quibus,  ingenium,  es  ('  thou  art '), 
etc.  One  such  error  in  a  verse  is  fatal  to  its  metrical  struc- 
ture, and  the  pupil  who  habitually  commits  such  errors  in 
reading  is  simply  wasting  valuable  time. 

Class  Second. 
In  '  Closed '  2  Syllables. 

It  is  a  fundamental  fact  that  a  '  closed '  syllable  is  long. 
But  in  order  to  be  long  it  must  be  actually  closed  in  pro- 

1  An  '  open  '  syllable  is  one  whose  vowel  is  followed  by  a  single  con- 
sonant (or  by  a  mute  with  I  or  r).     This  single  consonant  (or  the  mute 
with  I  or  r)  is  joined  with  the  vowel  of  the  following  syllable,  thus 
leaving  the  previous  syllable  *  open.' 

2  A  '  closed '  syllable  is  one  whose  vowel  is  followed  by  two  or  more 
consonants  (except  a  mute  with  I  or  r).    The  first  of  the  two  (or  more) 


METRES.  xlv 

nunciation.  Right  here  is  where  the  pupil  is  apt  to  err. 
He  fails  to  make  the  syllable  '  closed/  i.e.  he  does  not  join 
the  first  of  the  two  or  more  consonants  to  the  preceding 
vowel,  but  joins  all  of  the  consonants  with  the  following 
vowel.  He  thus  leaves  the  preceding  syllable  'open.' 
Hence,  if  the  vowel  itself  is  short,  the  syllable  by  this  in- 
correct pronunciation  is  made  short,  where  it  ought  to  be 
made  long.  Thus  the  student  is  apt  to  say  tem-pe-sta-ti-bus 
where  he  ought  to  say  tem-pes-ta-ti-bus,  i.e.  he  joins  both  the 
s  and  the  t  with  the  following  vowel,  where  he  ought  to 
join  the  s  with  the  preceding  vowel  (thus  making  a  '  closed ' 
syllable),  and  only  the  t  with  the  following  vowel.1 

Errors  of  the  kind  referred  to  are  so  liable  to  occur  that 
it  seems  best  to  classify  them  by  groups :  — 

a.  The  commonest  group  consists  of  those  words  which 
contain  a  short  vowel  followed  by  doubled  consonants  (pp, 
cc,  tt,  etc.),  —  words  of  the  type  of  ap-parabat,  ac-cipiebam, 
at-tigerant,  ges-serunt,  ter-ra-rum,  an-norum,  ad-diderat,  Jlam- 
marum,  excel-lentia,  ag-gerimus,  etc.  In  Latin,  both  of  the 
doubled  consonants  were  pronounced,  one  being  combined 
with  the  previous  vowel  (thus  closing  the  syllable  and 
making  it  long),  one  with  the  following  vowel.  But  in 
English  we  practically  never  have  doubled  consonants. 
We  write  them  and  print  them,  but  we  do  not  pronounce 
them.  Thus,  we  write  and  print  Jcit-ty,  fer-ry,  etc.,  but  we 
do  not  pronftoficeTworT's^  or  two  Vs  in  these  words  any 
more  than  in  ~piky,  which  we  write  with  one  t,  or  in  very, 

consonants  is  regularly  joined  in  pronunciation  with  the  preceding 
vowel,  thus  closing  the  preceding  syllable.  This  is  the  real  significance 
of  the  common  rule  that  a  syllable  is  long  when  a  short  vowel  is  fol- 
lowed by  two  consonants.  It  is  because  one  of  the  consonants  is  joined 
to  the  preceding  vowel,  thus  closing  the  syllable. 

1  This  doctrine,  to  be  sure,  contradicts  the  rules  given  in  grammars  for 
division  of  words  into  syllables  ;  but  those  rules  apply  only  to  writing, 
not  actual  utterance.  See  Bennett,  Appendix  to  Latin  Grammar,  §  35. 


xlvi  METRES. 

which  we  write  with  one  r.  Now,  in  pronouncing  Latin 
the  pupil  is  very  apt  to  pronounce  the  doubled  consonants 
of  that  language  as  single  consonants,  just  as  he  does  in 
English.  Thus  he  naturally  pronounces  the  words  above 
given,  not  ap-pa-ra-bat,  etc.,  but  d-pa-rabat,  a-cipiebam,  d-tige- 
rant,  ge-serunt,  te-rdrum,  a-norum,  d-diderat,  fld-mdrum,  exce- 
lentia,  d-gerimus.  In  other  words,  the  pupil  pronounces  only 
one  consonant,  where  he  ought  to  pronounce  two,  and  that 
one  consonant  he  joins  with  the  following  vowel.  He  thus 
leaves  the  preceding  syllable  '  open,'  i.e.  he  makes  it  short 
when  it  ought  to  be  long. 

The  effects  of  this  pronunciation  are  disastrous  in  read- 
ing Latin  poetry,  for  these  doubled  consonants  occur  on  an 
average  in  every  other  line  of  Latin  poetry. 

b.  The  second  group  consists  of  words  in  which  a  short 
vowel   is  followed  by  sp,  sc,  st-,  also  by  scl,  scr,  str.     In 
English,  when  the  vowel  following  these  combinations  is 
accented,  we  usually  combine  the  consonants  with  the  fol- 
lowing vowel.     Thus  we  say  a-scribe,  OrStounding,  etc.     Now, 
the  Latin  pupil  is  almost  certain  to  do  the  same  thing  in 
pronouncing  Latin,  unless  he  is  on  his  guard,  i.e.  he  is  likely 
to  say  a-spersus,  i-storum,  tempe-stwus,  coru-scdbat,  mi-scuerat, 
magi-strorum,  ctrscripsit,  etc.     What  he  ought  to  do  is  to  join 
the  s  with  the  preceding  vowel  (thus  making  the  syllable 
closed,  and  long),  pronouncing  as-persus,  is-torum,  tempes- 
tivus,  corus-cdbat,  mis-cuerat,  magis-trorum,  as-cripsit,  etc.     By 
joining  all  the  consonants  to  the  following  vowel  he  leaves 
the  preceding  syllable  open.     Hence,  when  the  preceding 
vowel   is   short,   the    syllable    also    becomes   short.      This 
destroys  the  metre  of  the  line. 

c.  The  third  group  consists  of  words  containing  a  short 
vowel  followed  by  r  and  some  consonant.     In  our  common 
English  utterance  we  are  very  apt  to  neglect  the  r.     This 
tendency  is  all  but  universal  in  New  England,  and  is  widely 


METRES.  xlvii 

prevalent  in  the  Middle  states.  As  a  result,  the  pupil  is 
apt  to  pronounce  Latin  with  the  same  neglect  of  the  r  that  he 
habitually  practises  in  the  vernacular.  This  omission  occurs 
particularly  where  the  preceding  vowel  is  unaccented,  e.g.  in 
portarum,  terminorum,  etc.  The  pupil  is  likely  to  say 
po(r)-tarum,  te(r)-minorum,  i.e.  he  makes  the  preceding  syl- 
lable 'open'  and  short,  where  it  ought  to  be  ' closed'  and 
long.  In  order  to  close  the  syllable,  a  distinct  articulation 
of  the  r  is  necessary.  When  this  is  overlooked,  the  quantity 
of  the  syllable  is  lost  and  the  metrical  character  of  the  line 
is  destroyed. 

d.  The  fourth  group  of  words  consists  of  those  ending 
in  s,  preceded  by  a  short  vowel  and  followed  by  words  be- 
ginning with  c,  p,  t,  v,  m,  n,  /.  In  English  we  are  very  apt 
to  join  the  final  s  to  the  initial  consonant  of  the  following 
word.  Thus  we  habitually  say  grievou  stale  for  grievous  tale; 
Lewi  sTaylor  for  Lewis  Taylor,  etc.  There  is  great  danger 
of  doing  the  same  thing  in  Latin.  Experience  teaches  that 
pupils  often  say  urbi  sportas  for  urbis  portas;  capi  scanem 
for  capis  canem;  even  urbl  svici  for  urbis  vici,  etc.  Care 
must  be  taken  to  join  the  final  s  clearly  with  the  preceding 
vowel.  Otherwise  the  preceding  syllable  will  be  left '  open ' 
and  short  where  it  ought  to  be  '  closed  '  and  long. 

The  foregoing  cautions  are  not  mere  theoretical  inventions. 
They  are  vital,  and  are  based  on  experience  of  the  errors 
which  we  as  English-speaking  people  naturally  commit  when 
we  pronounce  Latin.  It  is  only  by  a  conscientious  observ- 
ance of  the  principles  above  laid  down  that  any  one  can 
read  Latin  poetry  quantitatively  ;  and  unless  we  do  so  read 
it,  we  necessarily  fail  to  reproduce  its  true  character. 

COMMON  SYLLABLES. 

As  is  well  known,  when  a  short  vowel  is  followed  by  a 
mute  with  I  or  r  (pi,  d,  tl;  pr,  cr,  tr;  etc.),  the  syllable  is 


xlviii  METRES. 

common,  i.e.  it  may  be  either  long  or  short  in  verse  at  the 
option  of  the  poet.  The  explanation  of  this  peculiarity  is 
as  follows :  — 

In  a  word  like  patrem,  for  example,  it  was  recognized 
as  legitimate  to  pronounce  in  two  ways  :  either  to  combine 
the  tr  with  the  following  vowel  (pa-trem),  thus  leaving  the 
preceding  syllable  'open'  and  short,  or  to  join  the  t  with 
the  preceding  vowel  (pat-rem),  thus  closing  the  preceding 
syllable  and  making  it  long.  Hence,  in  the  case  of  common 
syllables,  the  quantity  in  each  individual  instance  depends 
upon  the  mode  of  pronunciation,  i.e.  the  mode  in  which  we 
divide  the  syllable.  In  reading  Latin  poetry,  therefore,  it 
will  be  necessary  for  the  pupil  to  observe  how  the  poet 
treats  each  common  syllable,  and  to  pronounce  accordingly. 

ELISION. 

The  rule  for  Elision,  as  stated  in  our  Latin  grammars,  is 
in  substance  as  follows :  "  A  final  vowel,  a  final  diphthong, 
or  m  with  a  preceding  vowel,1  is  regularly  elided  before  a 
word  beginning  with  a  vowel  or  h." 

The  exact  nature  of  Elision,  as  observed  by  the  ancients 
in  reading  Latin  verse,  is  still  very  uncertain.  The  Romans 
may  have  slurred  the  words  together  in  some  way,  or  they 
may  have  omitted  the  elided  part  entirely. 

RULES  FOR  READING. 

1.  Observe  the  quantity  of  each  syllable  scrupulously, 
taking  care  to  observe  the  division  of  the  syllables  as  indi- 
cated by  the  hyphens,  joining  the  consonant  before  the  hyphen 
with  the  preceding  vowel,  and  so  closing  the  syllable. 

2.  Make  the  word-accent  light;  subordinate  it  carefully 
to  quantity. 

1  The  elision  of  final  m  with  a  preceding  vowel  is  sometimes  called 
Ecthlipsis. 


METRES.  xlix 

3.  Endeavor  to  cultivate  the  quantitative  sense,  i.e.  to  feel 
the  verse  as  consisting  of   a  succession  of  long  and  short 
intervals. 

4.  Do  not  attempt  to  give  special  expression  to  the  ictus 
in  any  way.     The  ictus  will  care  for  itself  if  the  syllables 
are  properly  pronounced. 

THE  METRE  OF  THE  SATIRES. 

56.  The  metre  of  the  Sermones  and  Epistulae  is  the  dac- 
tylic hexameter,  consisting  of  six  dactyls  (_  ww),  of  which 
the  last  is  catalectic,  i.e.  _w(w).  In  any  foot,  including 
the  last,  a  spondee  (  __  )  may  be  substituted  for  the  dactyl. 
The  last  syllable  is  therefore  long  or  short  at  the  option  of 
the  poet.  The  fifth  foot  is  always  a  dactyl,  except  for  a 
single  spondaic  line  in  Ars  Poet.  467,  invitum  qui  servat, 
idem  facit  occidenti.  We  thus  have  the  following  scheme  :  — 


The  most  common  caesura,  as  in  classical  Eoman  poetry 
generally,  is  the  so-called  penthemimeral  in  the  middle  of 
the  third  foot  :  e.g.  i.  1.  1,  — 

qui  fit,  Maecenas,  ||  ut  nemo  quam  sibi  sortem 

Next  in  frequency  is  the  so-called  hepthemimeral,  in  the 
fourth  foot,  which  is  usually  accompanied  by  another 
caesura  in  the  second  foot:  e.g.  i.  1.  30,  — 

audaces  \\  mare  qui  currunt  \\  hac  mente  laborem 

Sometimes  the  caesura  in  the  second  foot  is  omitted:  e.g. 
ii.  3.142,  — 

pauper  Opimius  argenti  ||  positi  intus  et  auri 

The  so-called  feminine  caesura,  after  a  short  syllable,  is  not 
uncommon  :  e.g.  i.  3.  51,  — 

postulat  ut  videatur.  \\  At  est  truculentior  atque 


1  METRES. 

The  bucolic  caesura,  after  the  fourth  foot,  is  comparatively 
frequent:  e.g.  i.  8.  25, — 

cum  Sagana  maiore  ulutantem.  II    Pallor  utrasque 

A  verse  without  a  caesura,  written  purposely  to  illustrate 
faulty  metre,  occurs  in  Ars  Poet.  263,  — 

non  quivis  videt  immodulata  poemata  index. 

In  the  Sermones,  as  in  Comedy,  and  less  so  in  the  Epis- 
tulae,  so-called  elision,  probably  a  blending  of  two  vowels,  is 
frequent.  It  is  found  in  the  first  syllable  of  lines,  e.g.  i.  1. 
52,  dum  ex  parvo  nobis  tantundem  haurire  relinquas;  before 
the  caesura,  e.g.  i.  4.  58,  tempora  certa  modosque,  II  et  quod 
prius  ordine  verbum  est;  and  with  long  vowels:  e.g.  i.  1.  59, 
at  qui  tantuli  eget  quanto  est  opus,  is  neque  limo ;  i.  9.  30, 
quod  puero  cecinit  divina  mota  anus  urna. 

Hypermetric  verses,  the  final  vowels  of  which  are  elided 
before  a  vowel  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  line,  occur  in 

1.  4.  96  and  i.  6.  102.     Four  lines  (i.  2.  62;  ii.  3.  117;  E.  ii. 

2.  93 ;  Ars  Poet.  424)  are  united  to  the  following  lines  by  a 
compound  word,  which  is  divided  between  the  two  lines  by 
tmesis. 

57.   Metrical  licenses  are  numerous. 

a.  Hiatus  occurs  with  the  interjection  0  in  ii.  3.  265; 
E.  i.  19. 19;  Ars  Poet.  301 ;  and  with  num  in  ii.  2.  28.     Semi- 
hiatus  (with  shortening  of  the  first  vowel)  occurs  in  i.  9.  28, 
si  me  amas,  and  Ars  Poet.  65,  diu  aptaque. 

b.  We  have  synezesis  of  two  vowels  in  i.  5.  37,  in  Mamur- 
rarum  lassi  deinde  urbe  manemus;  i.  6.  39,  deicere;  i.  8.  43, 
cerea;  ii.  3.  91,  quoad;  ii.  6.  67,  prout;   ii.  1.  222,  reprehen- 
dere. 

c.  Semivowels  are  treated  as  vowels  and  vowels  as  semi- 
vowels: e.g.  i.  7.  30,  vindemiator  et  invictus,  cui  saepe  viator; 


METRES.  H 

ii.  2.  76  and  E.  i.  1.  108,  pituita;  ii.  8.  1,  Nasidieni;  i.  8.  17, 
suetae. 

d.  The  original  long  quantity  of  vowels  which  had  in  the 
classical  period  become  short  is  retained  in  i.  5.  90,  callidus 
ut  soleat  umeris  portare  viator;   i.  9.  21,  subilt;  E.  i.  6.  40, 
fuerls.     After  the  analogy  of  such  cases,  originally  short 
vowels  are  lengthened  in  i.  4.  82,  defendlt;  ii.  2.  74,  miscuerls; 
ii.  3.  260,  acjlt;  ii.  3.  1,  scribis. 

e.  The  original  short  quantity  of  a  vowel  which  had  be- 
come long  is  retained  in  i.  10.  45,  annuerunt;  E.  i.  4.  7, 
dederunt. 

58.  Alliteration  is  frequent,  and  onomatopoeia  may  often 
be  observed :  e.g.  i.  3. 136,  magnorum  maxime  regum;  i.  6.  57, 
pudor  prohibebat  plura  profari  (alliteration  and  onomato- 
poeia) ;  i.  9.  24,  membra  movere  mollius;  ii.  8.  78,  stridere 
secreta  divisos  aure  susurros  (alliteration  and  onomatopoeia)  ; 
E.  i.  2.  43,  labitur  et  labetur  in  omne  volubilis  aevum  (of  a 
flowing  stream ;  note  the  abundance  of  dactyls,  the  allitera- 
tion, and  the  onomatopoeia)  ;  Ars  Poet.  260,  in  scaenam  mis- 
sos  cum  magno  pondere  versus  (parodying  the  heavy  spondaic 
verses  of  Ennius).  We  have  rhyme  in  E.  i.  12.  25,  ne  tamen 
ignores,  quo  sit  Romana  loco  res;  Ars  Poet.  176-177,  seniles 
.  .  .  viriles. 

In  some  cases  the  choice  of  words  is  determined  by  the 
requirements  of  the  metre :  e.g.  i.  5.  37,  in  Mamurrarum 
urbe  (instead  of  Formiae);  ii.  1.  17,  Scipiadam  (instead  of 
Scipwnem) ;  cf.  i.  5.  87,  mansuri  oppidulo  quod  versu  dicere 
non  est. 


Q.  HORATI    FLACCI 

SERMONUM 

LIBER   PRIMUS. 


I. 

ON  AVARICE. 
A  DEDICATION  OF  THE  FIRST  BOOK  OF  THE  SERMONES  TO  MAECENAS. 

1.   Outline :  Nearly  all  men  are  discontented  and  unhappy  :  the 
cause  is  avarice  : 

1.  All  men  are  dissatisfied  with  their  own  callings,  and  envy  the 

lot  of  others,  1-3  ; 

They  say  that  their  life  is  full  of  hardship,  4-14  ; 
Yet  they  would  not  change  places  with  any  one  else,  if  they  had 
•  the  opportunity,  14-22. 

2.  The  real  cause  of  their  discontent  is  their  desire  for  wealth  : 
a)  They  say  that  they  are  toiling  to  secure  a  provision  for  old 

age; 
But  if  this  were  so,  they  would  cease  when  they  had  enough 

to  live  on,  23-40  ; 
6)  They  assert  that  if  they  retire  and  use  their  store,  it  will 

soon  melt  away  ; 
But  if  they  do  not  use  it,  it  has  no  real  value,  41-51  ; 

c)  There  is  more  satisfaction,  they  declare,  in  drawing  on  a 

great  hoard  ; 

But  if  a  man  has  enough,  greater  possessions  are  only  a 
burden  and  a  source  of  danger,  51-60  ; 

d)  They  allege  that  men  are  esteemed  in  proportion  to  their 

wealth  ; 

Such  a  perverted  view  can  be  treated  only  with  contempt, 
61-67. 

1 


SERMONUM  [I. 

3.  The  avaricious  man  is  always  wretched  : 

a)  He  does  not  know  how  to  enjoy  his  wealth,  68-75  ; 
&)   He  is  in  constant  fear  and  apprehension,  76-79  ; 

c)  He  cannot  buy  affection,  80-91 ; 

d)  And  sooner  or  later  some  dreadful  fate  overtakes  him,  92-100. 

4.  Yet  a  man  should  not  go  to  the  other  extreme.     He  should  aim 

at  a  mean  between  stinginess  and  prodigality,  101-107 : 
a)  He  will  thus  be  free  from  discontent  and  envy,  108-116  ; 
6)  He  will  live  happily  and  die  contented,  117-119. 

5.  Horace  ends  abruptly,  to  avoid  the  charge  of  garrulousness,  120- 

121. 

2.   Time:  35  t.c. 

Qu  i  fit,  Maecenas,  ut  nemo,  quam  sibi  sortem 

ratio  dederit  seu  fors  obiecerit,  ilia 
Contentus  vivat,  laudet  diversa  sequentis  ? 

<0  fortunati  mercatores  ! '  gravis  annis 

Miles  ait,  multo  iam  fractus  membra  labore.  5 

Contra  mercator,  navem  iactantibus  Austris : 

'  Militia  est  potior.    Quid  enim  ?   Concurritur ;  horae 

Momento  cita  mors  veriit  aut  victoria  laeta.' 

Agricolam  laud  at  iuris  legumque  peritus, 

Sub  galli  cantum  consult^^ibi  ostia  pulsat.  10 

Ille  datis  vadibus  qui  rure  extractus  in  urbem  est, 

Solos  felices  viventis  clamat  in  urbe. 

Cetera  de  genere  hoc  —  adeo  sunt  multa  —  loquacem 

Delassare  valent  Fabium.     Ne  te  morer,  audi 

Quo  rem  deducam.     Si  quis  deus  *  En  ego '  dicat  15 

'  Iam  f  aciam  quod  voltis ;  eris  tu,  qui  modo  miles, 

Mercator;  tu  consul tus  modo,  rusticus:  hinc  vos, 

Vos  hinc  mutatis  discedite  partibus.     Heia ! 

Quid  statis  ?  '  —  nolint.     Atqui  licet  esse  beatis. 

Quid  causae  est,  merito  quin  illis  luppiter  ambas  20 

Iratus  buccas  inflet  neque  se  fore  posthac 

Tarn  facilem  dicat,  votis  ut  praebeat  aurem  ? 

Praeterea  ne  sic,  ut  qui  iocularia,  ridens 
Percurram  —  quamquain  ridentem  dicere  verum 


L]  LIBER   I.  3 

Quid  vetat  ?  ut  pueris  olim  dant  crustula  blandi  25 

Doctores,  elementa  velint  ut  discere  prima ; 
Sed  tarn  en  amoto  quaeramus  seria  ludo  — • 
Ille  gravem  duro  terrain  qui  vertit  aratro, 
Perfidus  hie  caupo,  miles,  nautaeque  per  omne 
Audaces  mare  qui  cur  runt,  hac  mente  laborem  30 

Sese  ferre,  senes  ut  in  otia  tuta  recedant, 
Aiunt,  cum  sibi  sint  congesta  cibaria ;  sicut 
1*arvola —  nam  exemplo  est — magni  formica  laboris 
Ore  trahit  quodcumque  potest  atque  addit  acervo, 
t  Quem  struit,  haud  ignara  ac  non  incauta  futuri.  35 

^Quae,  simul  inversum  contristat  Aquarius  annum, 
Non  usquam  prorepit  et  illis  utitur  ante 
Quaesitis  sapiens,  cum  te  neque  fervidus  aestus 
Demoveat  lucro,  neque  hieins,  ignis,  mare,  ferrum, 
Nil  obstet  tibi,  dum  ne  sit  te  ditior  alter.  40 

Quid  iuvat  iminensuin  te  argenti  pondus  et  auri 
Furtim  defpssa  timidum  deponere  terra  ? 
'  Quod  si  comminuas,  vilem  redigatur  ad  assem.' 
At  ni  id  fit,  quid  habet  pulchri  constmctus  acervus  ? 
-  Milia  frumenti  tua  triverit  area  centum ;  45 

Non  tuus  hoc  capiet  venter  plus  ac  meus ;  ut  si 
Reticuluin  panis  venalis  inter  onusto 
Forte  vehas  umero,  nihilo  plus  accipias  quam 
Qui  nil  portarit.     Vel  die,  quid  referat  intra 
Naturae  finis  viventi  iugera  centum  an  50 

Mille  aret  ? 

<  At  suave  est  ex  rnagno  tollere  acervo.7 
Dum  ex  parvo  nobis  tantundem  haurire  relinquas, 
Cur  tua  plus  laudes  cuineris  granaria  nostris  ? 
Ut  tibi  si  sit  opus  liquidi  non  amplius  urna 
Vel  cyatho,  et  dicas  '  magno  de  flumine  mallem,  55 

Quam  ex  hoc  fonticulo  tantundem  sumere.'     Eo  fit, 
Plenior  ut  si  quos  delectet  copia  iusto, 


4  SERMONUM  [I. 

\jCum  ripa  simul  avolsos  ferat  Aufidus  acer. 
At  qui  tantuli  eget,  quanto  est  opus,  is  neque  limo 
Turbatam  haurit  aquam  neque  vitam  amittit  in  undis.         60 

At  bona  pars  hominum  decepta  cupidine  falso 
'Ml  satis  est'  inquit  <quia  tanti  quantum  habeas  sis.' 
YQuid  facias  illi?     lubeas  miserum  esse,  libenter 
Quatenus  id  facit ;  ut  quidam  memoratur  Athenis 
Sordidus  ac  dives,  populi  contemnere  voces  65 

Sic  solitus :  '  Populus  me  sibilat,  at  mihi  plaudo  • 

Ipse  domi,  simul  ac  nummos  contemplor  in  area.'     6  ^ 

Tantalus  a  labris  sitiens  fugientia  captat 
Flumina —  Quid  rides?     Mutato  nomine  de  te 
Fabula  narratur ;  congestis  undique  saccis  70 

Indormis  inhians  et  tamquam  parcere  sacris 
Cogeris  aut  pictis  tamquam  gaudere  tabellis. 
Nescis  quo  valeat  nummus  ?  quern  praebeat  usum  ? 
Panis  ematur,  hQlus,  vini  sextarius,  adde 
Quis  humana  sibi  doleat  natura  negatis*  75 

An  vigilare  metu  exanimem,  noctesque  diesque 
Formidare  malos  fures,  incendia,  servos, 
Ne  te  compilent  fugierites,  hoc  iuvat  ?     Horum 
Semper  ego  optarim  pauperrimus  esse  bonorum.'^" 

At  si  condoluit  temptatum  frigore  corpus  80 

Aut  alius  casus  lecto  te  adfixit,  habes  qui 
Adsideat,  fomenta  paret,  medicum  roget,  ut  te 
Suscitet  ac  reddat  gnatis  carisque  propinquis  ? 
Non  uxor  salvum  te  volt,  non  films ;  omnes 
Vicini  oderunt,  noti,  pueri  atque  puellae.  85 

Miraris,  cum  tu  argerito  post  omnia  ponas, 
Si  nemo  praestet,  quern  non  merearis,  amorem  ? 
An  si  cognatos,  nullo  natura  labore 
Quos  tibi  dat,  retinera  velis  servareque  amicos, 
Infelix  operam  ^r^sfuFsi  quis  asellum  90 

In  Campo  doceat  parentem  currere  frenis  ? 


L]  LIBER   I.  5 

Denique  sit  finis  quaerendi,  cumque  habeas  plus, 
Pauperism  metuas  minus  et  finire  laborem 
Incipias,  parto  quod  avebas,  ne  facias  quod 
Umniidius  quidam.     Non  longa  est  fabula :  dives,  95 

Ut  metiretur  nummos,  ita  sordidus,  ut  se 
Non  umquam  servo  melius  vestiret,  ad  usque 
Supremum  tempus,  ne  se  penuria  victus 
Opprimeret,  metuebat.     At  hunc  liberta  securi 
^i  visit  medium,  fortissima  Tyndaridarum.  100 

'  Quid  mi  igitur  suades  ?   Ut  vivam  Naevius,  aut  sic 
Ut  Nomentanus  ? '     Pergis  pugnantia  secum 
Frontibus  adversis  componere ;  non  ego,  avaruin 
Cum  veto  te  fieri,  vappain  iubeo  ac  nebulonem. 
Est  inter  Tanain  quiddam  s&cerumque  Viselli.  105 

Est  modus  in  rebus,  sunt  certi  denique  fines,  \ 
Quos  ultra  citraque  nequit  consistere  rectum. 

Illuc,  unde  abii,  redeo,  qui  nemo,  ut^varus, 
Se  probet  ac  potius  laudet  diversa  sequentis,  \— 
Quodque  aliena  capella  gerat  distentius  uber,  110 

Tabescat,  neque  se  maiori  pauperiorum 
Turbae  comparet,  hunc  atque  hunc  superare  laboret. 
Sic  festinanti  semper  locupletior  obstat, 
Ut,  cum  carceribus  missos  rapit  ungula  currus, 
Instat  equis  auriga  suos  vincentibus,  ilium  115 

Praeteritum  temnens  extremes  inter  euntem. 

Iride  fit,  ut  raro,  qui  se  vixisse  beatum 
Dicat  et  exacto  contentus  tempore  vita 
Cedat  uti  conviva  satur,  reperire  queamus. 

lam  satis  est ;  ne  me  Crispini  scrinia  lippi  120 

Compilasse  putes,  verbum  non  amplius  addam. 


6  SERMON  UM  [II. 

II. 

The  coarseness  of  this  satire  leads  to  omission  of  an  outline. 
Ambubaiarum  collegia,  pharmacopolae, 
Mendici,  mimae,  balatrones,  hoc  genus  omne 
Maestum  ac  sollicitum  est  cantoris  morte  Tigelli. 
Quippe  benignus  erat.     Contra  hie,  ne  prodigus  esse 
Dicatur  metuens,  inopi  dare  nolit  amico,  5 

Frigus  quo  duramque  famem  propellere  possit.  ^ 

Hunc  si  perconteris,  avi  cur  atque  parentis 
Praeclaram  ingrata  stringat  malus  ingluvie  rem, 
Omnia  conductis  coemens  obsonia  nummis ; 
Sordidus  atque  animi  quod  parvi  nolit  haberi,  10 

Kespondet.     Laudatur  ab  his,  culpatur  ab  illis. 
Fundius  vappae  faniam  timet  ac  nebulonis, 
Dives  agris,  dives  positis  in  faenore  nummis ; 
Quinas  hie  capiti  mercedes  exsecat,  atque 
Quanto  perditior  qui&que  est,  tanto  acrius  urguet ;  15 

Nomina  sectatur  modo  sumpta  veste  virili 
Sub  patribus  duris  tironum.     <  Maxime '  quis  non 
'  luppiter ! '  exclamat,  simul  atque  audivit  ?     i  At  in  se 
Pro  quaestu  sumptum  facit.7     Hie  ?     Vix  credere  possis, 
Quam  sibi  non  sit  amicus,  ita  ut  pater  ille,  Terenti  20 

Fabula  quern  miserum  gnato  vixisse  fugato 
Inducit,  non  se  peius  cruciaverit  atque  hie. 

Si  quis  nunc  quaerat  '  Quo  res  haec  pertinet  ? '     Illuc : 
Dum  vitant  stulti  vitia,  in  contraria  currunt. 

Maltinus  tunicis  demissis  ambulat ;  est  qui  25 

Inguen  ad  obscenum  subductis  usque  facetus. 
Pastilles  Eufillus  olet,  Gargonius  hircum. 
Nil  medium  est.     Sunt  qui  nolint  tetigisse  nisi  illas, 
Quarum  subsuta  talos  tegat  instita  veste ; 
Contra  alius  nullam  nisi  olenti  in  fornice  stantem.  30 

Quidam  notus  homo  cum  exiret  fornice,  '  Macte 
Virtute  esto '  inquit  sententia  dia  Catonis : 


II.]  LIBER   I.  7 

*  Nam  simul  ac  venas  inflavit  taetra  libido, 
Hue  iuvenes  aequuin  est  descendere,  non  alienas 
Permolere  uxores.'     '  Nolim  laudarier }  inquit  35 

'  Sic  me '  mirator  cunni  Cupiennius  albi. 

Audire  est  operae  pretium,  procedere  recte 
Qui  moechos  non  voltis,  ut  omni  paite  laborent, 
Utque  illis  multo  corrupta  dolore  voluptas, 
Atque  haec  rara,  cadat  dura  inter  saepe  pericla.  40 

Hie  se  praecipitem  tecto  dedit,  ille  flagellis 
Ad  mortem  caesus,  fugiens  hie  decidit  acrem 
Praedonum  in  turbam,  dedit  hie  pro  corpore  nummos, 
Hunc  perminxerunt  calones  ;  quin  etiam  illud 
Accidit,  ut  cuidam  testis  caudamque  salacem  45 

Demeterent  f erro.     '  lure '  omnes ;  Galba  negabat. 

Tutior  at  quanto  merx  est  in  classe  secunda, 
Libertinarum  dico,  Sallustius  in  quas 
Non  minus  insanit  quam  qui  moechatur.     At  hie  si, 
Qua  res,  qua  ratio  suaderet,  quaque  modeste  50 

Munifico  esse  licet,  vellet  bonus  atque  benignus 
Esse,  daret  quantum  satis  esset,  nee  sibi  damno 
Dedecorique  foret.     Verum  hoc  se  amplectitur  uno, 
Hoc  amat  et  laudat,  *  Matronam  nullam  ego  tango.' 
Ut  quondam  Marsaeus,  amator  Originis  ille,  55 

Qui  patrium  mimae  donat  fundumque  Laremque 
'  Nil  fuerit  mi '  inquit  '  cum  uxoribus  umquam  alienis.' 
Verum  est  cum  miinis,  est  cum  meretricibus,  unde 
Fama  malum  gravius  quam  res  trahit.     An  tibi  abunde 
Personam  satis  est,  non  illud,  quicquid  ubique  60 

Officit,  evitare  ?     Bonam  deperdere  famam, 
Rem  patris  oblimare,  malum  est  ubicumque.     Quid  inter 
Est  in  matrona,  ancilla  peccesne  togata  ? 
Villius  in  Fausta  Sullae  gener,  hoc  miser  uno 
Nomine  deceptus,  poenas  dedit  usque  superque  65 

Quam  satis  est,  pugnis  caesus  ferroque  petitus, 


8  SERMONUM  [II. 

Exclusus  fore,  cum  Longarenus  foret  intus. 

Huic  si  mutonis  verbis  mala  tanta  videnti 

Diceret  haec  animus  '  Quid  vis  tibi  ?  numquid  ego  a  te 

Magno  prognatum  deposco  consule  cunnum  70 

Velatumque  stola,  mea  cum  conferbuit  ira  ?  ' 

Quid  responderet  ?     i  Magno  patre  nata  puella  est.' 

At  quanto  meliora  monet  pugnantiaque  istis 

Dives  opis  natura  suae,  tu  si  modo  recte 

Dispensare  velis  ac  non  fugienda  petendis  75 

Immiscere.     Tuo  vitio  rerumne  labores, 

Nil  referre  putas  ?     Quare,  ne  paeniteat  te, 

Desine  matronas  sectarier,  unde  laboris 

Plus  haurire  mali  est  quam  ex  re  decerpere  fructus. 

Nee  magis  huic,  inter  niveos  viridesque  lapillos  —  80 

Sit  licet,  hoc,  Cerinthe,  tuum  —  tenerum  est  femur  aut  crus 

Rectius,  atque  etiam  melius  persaepe  togatae  est. 

Adde  hue  quod  mercem  sine  fucis  gestat,  aperte 
Quod  venale  habet  ostendit,  nee,  si  quid  honesti  est. 
lactat  habetque  palam,  quaerit  quo  turpia  celet.  85 

Regibus  hie  mos  est,  ubi  equos  mercantur;  opertos 
Inspiciunt,  ne  si  facies,  ut  saepe,  decora 
Molli  fulta  pede  est,  emptorem  inducat  hiantem, 
Quod  pulchrae  clunes,  breve  quod  caput,  ardua  cervix. 
Hoc  illi  recte ;  ne  corporis  optima  Lyncei  90 

Con  tern  plere  oculis,  Hypsaea  caecior  ilia 
Quae  mala  sunt  spectes.     <  0  crus,  o  bracchia ! '     Verum 
Depugis,  nasuta,  brevi  latere  ac  pede  longo  est. 
Matronae  praeter  faciem  nil  cernere  possis, 
Cetera,  ni  Catia  est,  demissa  veste  tegentis.  95 

Si  interdicta  petes,  vallo  circumdata  —  nam  te 
Hoc  facit  insanum  —  multae  tibi  turn  efficient  res, 
Custodes,  lectica,  ciniflones,  parasitae, 
Ad  talos  stola  demissa  et  circumdata  palla, 
Plurinia,  quae  invideant  pure  apparere  tibi  rem.  100 


II.]  LIBER   I.  9 

Altera,  nil  obstat;  Cois  tibi  paene  videre  est 

Ut  nudam,  ne  crure  malo,  ne  sit  pede  turpi ; 

Metiri  possis  oculo  latus.     An  tibi  mavis 

Insidias  fieri  pretiumque  avellier  ante 

Quam  mercem  ostendi  ?     '  Leporem  venator  ut  alta  105 

In  nive  sectetur,  positum  sic  tangere  nolit/ 

Cantat  et  adponit  <Meus  est  amor  huic  similis;  nam 

Transvolat  in  medio  posita  et  fugientia  captat.' 

Hiscine  versiculis  speras  tibi  posse  dolores 

Atque  aestus  curasque  gravis  e  pectore  tolli  ?  no 

Nonne,  cupidinibus  statuat  natura  modum  quern, 

Quid  latura  sibi,  quid  sit  dolitura  negatum, 

Quaerere  plus  prodest  et  inane  abscindere  soldo? 

Num,  tibi  cum  fauces  urit  sitis,  aurea  quaeris 
Pocula  ?     Num  esuriens  fastidis  omnia  praeter  115 

Pavonem  rhombumque  ?     Tument  tibi  cum  inguina,  num,  si 
Ancilla  aut  verna  est  praesto  puer,  impetus  in  quern 
Continue  fiat,  mails  tentigine  rumpi  ? 
Non  ego :  namque  parabilem  amo  Venerem  f acilemque. 
Illam  <  Post  paullo ' ;  '  Sed  pluris ' ;  '  Si  exierit  vir '  120 

Gallis,  hanc  Philodemus  ait  sibi,  quae  neque  magno 
Stet  pretio  neque  cunctetur,  cum  est  iussa  venire. 
Candida  rectaque  sit,  munda  hactenus,  ut  neque  longa 
Nee  magis  alba  velit  quam  dat  natura  videri. 
Haec,  ubi  supposuit  dextro  corpus  mihi  laevum,  125 

Ilia  et  Egeria  est ;  do  nomen  quodlibet  illi, 
Nee  vereor  ne,  dum  futuo,  vir  rure  recurrat, 
lanua  frangatur,  latret  canis,  undique  magno 
Pulsa  domus  strepitu  resonet,  vepallida  lecto 
Desiliat  mulier,  miseram  se  conscia  clamet,  130 

Cruribus  haec  metuat,  doti  deprensa,  egomet  mi. 
Discincta  tunica  fugiendum  est  ac  pede  nudo, 
Ne  nuinmi  pereant  aut  puga  aut  denique  fania. 
Deprendi  miserum  est :  Fabio  vel  iudice  vincam. 


10  SERMONUM  [III. 

III. 

ON  INTOLERANT  JUDGMENT. 

1.  Outline: 

1.  Men  have  no  patience  with  the  faults  of  others,  but  are  lenient 

toward  their  own  : 
a)  They  see  many  inconsistencies  in  the  conduct  of  their 

neighbors,  1-19 ; 
&)  They  plead  guilty  to  a  certain  degree  of  fallibility,  but  their 

silly  self-love  makes  them  pardon  themselves,  19-28  ; 

c)  They  will  not  see  the  good  qualities  of  their  fellows,  even 

though  these  far  outweigh  their  defects,  29-37  ; 

d)  They  would  do  well  to  cultivate  love's  blindness,  and  re- 

gard their  friends'  failings  as  virtues,  38-54  ; 

e)  As  a  matter  of  fact,  they  exaggerate  these  failings  into  serious 

faults,  55-66  ; 
/)  As  they  judge,  so  will  they  be  judged,  66-75. 

2.  Intolerant  judgment  is  fostered  by  the  doctrine  of  the  Stoics, 

that  all  faults  are  equal.     This  doctrine  is  false  : 
a)  It  is  the  height  of  folly  to  make  no  distinction  between 

trivial  offences  and  crimes,  76-95  ; 
&)  To  regard  all  faults  as  equal  is  contrary  to  common  sense 

and  to  the  interests  of  society  ,'96-98  ; 

c)  It  is  founded  on  a  false  conception  of  the  nature  of  law : 

1)  As  man  emerged  from  a  state  of  barbarism,  he  made 

laws  for  his  own  protection,  99-112  ; 

2)  They  were  not  based  on  a  simple  division  of  all  acts 

into  right  and  wrong,  but  on  a  gradation  of  offences 
according  to  their  effect  on  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity, 113-124  ; 

d)  "VVe  might  infer  its  falsity  from  that  of  another  absurd  doc- 

trine of  the  Stoics,  that  the  philosopher,  as  such,  is  skilled 
in  every  kind  of  work  and  is  a  king  among  men,  124-136. 

3.  Horace  prefers  to  be  a  private  citizen,  and  to  live  on  terms  of 

mutual  tolerance  with  his  fellowmen,  136-142. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  is  uncertain ;  not  after  35  B.C. 

Omnibus  hoc  vitium  est  cantoribus,  inter  amicos 
Ut  numquam  inducant  animum  cantare  rogati, 
Iniussi  numquam  desistant.     Sardus  habebat 
Hie  Tigellius  hoc.     Caesar,  qui  cogere  posset, 


III.]  LIBER   I.  11 


Si  peteret  per  amicitiam  pat^J^t^e^suam,  non  5 

Quicquam  proficeret  ;  si  collfbuisset,  ab  ovo 

Usque  ad  mala  citaret  '  io  Bacchae  '  modo  summa 

Voce,  modo  hac,  resonat  quae  chordis  quattuor  ima. 

Nil  aequale  homini  fuit  illi  :  saepe  velut  qui 

Currebat  f  ugiens  hostem,  persaepe  velut  qui  10 

lunonis  sacra  ferret  ;  habebat  saepe  ducentos, 

Saepe  decem  servos  ;  modo  reges  atque  tetrarchas, 

Omnia  magna  loquens,  modo  '  Sit  mihi  mensa  tripes  et 

Concha  salis  puri  et  toga,  quae  defendere  frigus, 

Quamvis  crassa,  queat.'     Deciens  centena  dedisses  15 

Huic  parco,  paucis  cpntento:  quinque  diebus 

Nil  erat  in  loculis.     Noctes  vigilabat  ad  ipsum 

Mane,  diem  toturn  stertebat.     Nil  fuit  umquam 

Sic  impar  sibi. 

Nunc  aliquis  dicat  mihi  '  quid  tu  ? 

Nullane  habes  vitia  ?  '     Immo  alia,  et  fortasse  minora.        20 
Maenius  absentem  Novium  cum  carperet,  '  heus  tu  ' 
Quidam  ait  '  ignoras  te,  an  ut  ignotum  dare,  nobis 
Verba  putas?  '     (  Egomet  im*  ignosccr  Maenius  inquit. 
Stultus  et  improbus  hie  amor  est  dignusque  notari. 
Cum  tua  pervideas  oculis  mala  lippus  inimctis,  25 

Cur  in  amicorum  vitiis  tarn  cernis  acutum, 
Quam  aut  aquila  aut  serpens  Epidaurius  ?    \At  tibi  contra      , 
Evenit,  inquirant  vitia  ut  tua  rursus  et  illi^l 
"   Iracundior  est  paullo,  minus  apt  us  acutis 
Naribus  horum  hominum  ;  rideri  possit  eo,  quod  30 

Rusticius  tonso  toga  defluit  et  male  laxus 
In  pede  calceus  haeret  ;  at  est  bonus,  ut  melior  vir 
Non  alms  quisquain,  at  tibi  amicus,  at  ingenium  ingens 
Inculto  latet  hoc  sub  corpore.     Denique  te  ipsum 
Concute,  num  qua  tibi  vitiorum  inseverit  olim  35 

Natura  aut  etiam  consuetude  mala;  namque 
Neglectis  urenda  filix  innascitur  agris. 


12  SERMONUM  [III. 

Illuc  praevertamur :  amatorem  quod  amicae 
Turpia  decipiunt  caecum,  vitia  aut  etiam  ipsa  haec 
Delectant,  veluti  Balbinum  polypus  Hagnae.  40 

Vellem  in  amicitia  sic  erraremus  et  isti 
Errori  nomen  virtus  posuisset  honestum. 
Ac  pater  ut  gnati,  sic  nos  debemus  amici 
Si  quod  sit  vitium,  non  fastidire.     Strabonem 
Appellat  paetum  pater,  et  pullum,  male  parvus  45 

Si  cui  films  est,  ut  abortivus  fuit  olim 
Sisyphus ;  hunc  varum  distortis  cruribus,  ilium 

Slbutjt  scaurum,  pravis  f ultum  male  tails.     ' 
rcius  hie  vivit :  frugi  dicatur.     Ineptus 
Et  iactautior  hie  paullo  est :  concinnus  amicis  50 

Postulat  ut  videatur.     At  est  truculentior  atque 
Plus  aequo  Hlbef :  simplex  f ortisque  habeatur. 
Caldior  est :  acris  inter  numeretur.     Opinor, 
Haec  res  et  iungit,  iunctos  et  servat  amicos. 

At  nos  virtutes  ipsas  invertimus  atque  55 

Sincerum  cupimus  vas  incrustare.     Probus  quis 
Nobiscum  vivit,  multum  demissus  homo ;  illi 
Tardo  cognomen  pingui  damus.     Hie  fugit  omnis 
Insidias  nullique  malo  latus  obdit  apertum  ; 
Cum  genus  hoc  inter  vitae  versetur,  ubi  acris  GO 

Invidia  atque  vigent  ubi  crimina,  pro  bene  sano 
.Ac  non  incauto  fictum  astutumque  vocamus. 
Simplicior  quis  et  est,  qualem  me  saepe  libenter 
Obtulerim  tibi,  Maecenas,  ut  forte  legentem 
Aut  taciturn  impellat  quovis  sermone :  f  Molestus  !  65 

Communi  sensu  plane  caret '  inquimus. 

Eheu, 

Quam  temere  in  nosmet  legem  sancimus  iniquam ! 
Nam  vitiis  nemo  sine  nascitur ;  optimus  ille  est, 
Qui  minimis  urgetur.     Amicus  dulcis,  ut  aequum  est, 
Cum  mea  conipenset  vitiis  bona,  pluribus  hisce,  70 


III.]  LIBER  I.  13 

Si  modo  plura  raihi  bona  sunt,  inclinet,  amari 
Si  volet.     Hac  lege  in  trutina  ponetur  eadein. 
Qui  ne  tuberibus  propriis  offendat  amicum 
Postulat,  rgnoscet  verrucis  illius :  aequum  est 
-  Peccatis  veniam  poscentem  reddere  rursus.  75 

Denique,  quatenus  excidi  penitus  vitiun/irae, 
Cetera  item  nequeunt  stultis  haerentia,  cur  non 
Ponderibus  modulisque  suis  ratio  utitur,  ac  res 
Ut  quaeque  est,  ita  suppliciis  delicta  coercet  ? 
Si  quis  eum  servum,  patinam  qui  tollere  iussus  80 

Semesos  piscis  tepidumque  ligurrierit  ius, 
In.  cruce  suffigat,  Labeone  insanior  inter 
Sanos  dicatur.     Quanto  hoc  furiosius  atque 
Maius  peccatum  est :  paullum  deliquit  amicus, 
Quod  nisi  concedas,  habeare  insuavis,  acerbus :  85 

Odisti  et  fugis  ut  Rusonem  debitor  aeris, 
Qui  nisi,  cum  tristes  misero  venere  Kalendae, 
Mercedem  aut  nummos  unde  unde  extricat,  amaras 
Porrecto  iugulo  historias  captivus  ut  audit. 
Comminxit  lectum  potus  .mensave  catillum  90 

Evandri  manibus  tritum  deiecit;  ob  hanc  rem, 
Aut  positum  ante  mea  quia  pullum  in  parte  catini 
Sustulit  esuriens,  minus  hoc  iucundus  amicus 
Sit  mihi  ?     Quid  faciarn  si  furtum  f ecerit,  aut  si 
Prodiderit  commissa_fide,sponsumve  negarit?  95 

Quis  paria  esse  fere  placuit  peccata,  laborant 
Cum  ventum  ad  verum  est :  sensus  moresque  repugnant 
Atque  ipsa  utilitas,  iusti  prope  mater  et  aequi. 

Cum  prorepserunt  primis  animalia  terris, 
Mutum  et  turpe  pecus,  glandem  atque  cubilia  propter        100 
Unguibus  et  pugriis,  dein  fustibus,  atque  ita  porro 
Pugnabaut  armis,  quae  post  fabricaverat  usus, 
Donee  verba,  quibus  voces  sensusque  notarent, 
Nominaque  invenere  ;  dehinc  absistere  bello, 


14  SERMONUM  [III. 

Oppida  coeperunt  munire  et  ponere  leges,  105 

Ne  quis  fur  esset,  neu  latro,  neu  quis  adulter; 
lura  inventa  metu  iniusti  fateare  necesse  est,  ill 

Tempora  si  fastosque  veils  evolvere  mundi. 

Nee  natura  potest  iusto  secernere  iniquum, 
Dividit  ut  bona  diversis,  fugienda  petendis ; 
Nee  vincet  ratio  hoc,  tantundera  ut  peccet  idemque,  115 

Qui  teheros  caules  alieni  fregerit  horti 
Et  qui  nocturnus  sacra  divum  legerit.     Adsit 
Regula,  peccatis  quae  poenas  inroget  aequas, 
Ne  scutica  dignum  horribili  sectere  flagello. 
Nam  ut  ferula  caedas  meritum  maiora  subire  120 

Verbera,  non  vereor,  cum  dicas  esse  pares  res 
Furta  latrociniis  et  magnis  parva  mineris 
Falce  recisurum  simili  te,  si  tibi  regnum 
Permittant  homines. 

Si  dives,  qui  sapiens  est, 

Et  sutor  bonus  et  solus  formosus  et  est  rex,  125 

Cur  optas  quod  habes  ?     '  Non  nosti,  quid  pater '  inquit 
'Chrysippus  dicat:  sapiens  crepidas  sibi  numquam 
Nee  soleas  fecit,  sutor  tamen  est  sapiens/     Qui  ? 
f  Ut  quamvis  tacet  Hermogenes,  cantor  tarnen  atque 
Optimus  est  modulator ;  ut  Alfenus  vafer  omni  130 

Abiecto  instrumento  artis  clausaque  taberna 
Tonsor  erat ;  sapiens  operis  sic  optimus  omnis 
Est  opifex,  solus  sic  rex.'     Vellunt  tibi  barbam 
Lascivi  pueri,  quos  tu  nisi  fuste  coerces, 
Urgueris  turba  circum  te  stante  miserque  135 

Rumperis  et  latras,  magnorum  maxime  regurn. 

Ne  longum  faciam,  dum  tu  quadrante  lavatum 
Rex  ibis  neque  te  quisquam  stipator  ineptum 
Praeter  Crispinum  sectabitur,  et  mihi  dulces 
Ignoscent  si  quid  peccaro  stultus,  amici,  140 

Inque  vicem  illorum  patiar  delicta  libenter, 
Privatusque  magis  vivam  te  rege  beatus. 


IV.]  LIBER  I.  15 

IV. 
THE  OLD   AND   THE   NEW   SATIRE. 

1.  Outline: 

1.  The  earlier  satire  attacked  all  men  who  were  vulnerable,  and 

held  them  up  to  public  ridicule.  It  was  therefore  gener- 
ally feared  and  detested  : 

a)  Its  prototype  was  the  Old  Comedy  of  the  Greeks,  1-5  ; 

&)  Its  greatest  Roman  representative  was  Lucilius,  who  had 
two  serious  faults,  6-7  : 

1)  He  was  too  diffuse,  8-12  ; 

2)  He  was  careless  in  composition,  12-13 ; 

c)   Horace  proposes  to  improve  on  Lucilius  in  two  ways  : 

1)  By  not  writing  voluminously  and  carelessly,  13-21  ; 

2)  By  not  forcing  his  works  on  a  public  to  which  they 

might  be  distasteful,  21-38. 

2.  Horace's  conception  of  satire,  and  his  reasons  for  choosing  that 

field  of  writing : 

a)  He  does  not  claim  the  title  of  poet.  He  merely  describes 
the  events  of  everyday  life  in  verse,  38-62  ; 

6)  It  is  unreasonable  to  fear  him,  for  no  blameless  man  is  at- 
tacked. -Moreover,  he  writes  merely  for  the  entertainment 
and  instruction  of  a  small  circle  of  friends,  63-78  ; 

c)  He  does  not  take  pleasure  in  hurting  people's  feelings.  He 
finds  amusement  in  the  weaknesses  and  eccentricities  of 
others,  but  without  malice,  78-103  ; 

d}  It  is  natural  for  him  to  observe  the  conduct  of  others.  He 
was  trained  to  do  so  in  his  youth  by  his  father,  as  a  means 
of  self-improvement,  103-126 ; 

e)  He  endeavors  not  merely  to  note  the  good  and  the  bad  quali- 
ties of  others,  but  to  profit  by  his  observation.  His  readers 
may  draw  their  own  moral,  126-137  ; 

/)  To  jot  down  his  thoughts  is  doubtless  a  weakness,  but  it 
should  be  forgiven.  If  not,  he  will  call  all  his  fellow-poets 
to  his  aid  and  compel  his  critics  to  join  the  craft,  137-143. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  is  uncertain  ;  not  after  35  B.C. 

Eupolis  atque  Cratinus  Aristophanesque  poetae 
Atque  alii,  quorum  comoedia  prisca  virorum  est,  - 
Si  quis  erat  dignus  describi,  quod  nialus  ac  fur, 


16  SERMONUM  [IV. 

Quod  moechus  foret  aut  sicarius  aut  alioqui 
Famosus,  multa  cum  Jibertate  notabant.  5 

Hinc  omni's  pendet  Lucilius,  hosce  secutus 

'  •  .  .  x-^wo- 

Mutatis  tatitum  pedibus  numerisque,  facetus,  v 

Emunctae  naris,  $urus  componere  versus. 

Nam  fuit  hoc  vitiosus :  in  bora  saepe  ducentos, 

Ut  magnum,  versus  dictabat  stans  pede  in  uno.  10 

Cum  flueret  lutulentus,  erat  quod;tollere  velles; 

Garrulus  atque  piger  scribendi  ferr'e  laborem, 

Scribendi  recte ;  nam  ut  multum,  nil  moror.^ 

'  Ecce, 

Crispinus  minimo  me  provocat :  '  accipe,  si  vis, 
Accipe  iam  tabulas ;  detur'nobis  locus,  hora,  15 

Custodes ;  videamus  uter  plus  scribere  possit.' 
Di  bene  fecerunt,  inopis  me  quodque  pusilli 
"Finxerunt  animi,  raro  et  perpauca  loquentis; 

C  At  tu  conclusas  hirquinis  follibus  auras 
Usque  laborantis,  dum  ferrum  molliat  ignis,  20 

.  Ut  mavis,  imitare. 

Beatus  Fannius  ultro 
Delatis  capsis  et  imagine  ;  cum  mea  nemo 
Scripta  legat,  volgo  recitare  timentis  ob  hanc  rem, 
Quod  sunt  quos  genus  hoc  minime  iuvat,  utpote  pluris 
Culpari  dignos.     Quemvis  media  elige  turba  ;  25 

Aut  ab  avaritia  aut  misera  ambitione  laborat. 
Hunc  capit  argenti  splendor  ;  stupet  Albius  aere; 
Hie  mutat  merces  surgente  a  sole  ad  eum  quo 
Vespertina  tepet  regio ;  quin  per  mala  praeceps  30 

Fertur,  uti  pulvis  collectus  turbine,  ne  quid 
Suinma  deperdat  metuens  aut  ampliet  ut  rem. 
Omnes  hi  metuunt  versus,  odere  poetas. 
'  Faenum  habet  in  cornu,  longe  fnge ;  dummodo  risum 
Excutiat  sibi,  non  hie  cuiquam  parcet  ainico ;  35 

Et  quodcumque  semel  chartis  inleverit,  omnis 


IV.]  LIBER   I.  17 

Gestiet  a  furno  redeuntis  scire  lacuque 
Et  pueros  et  a'nus.V_ 

Agedum,  pauca  accipe  contra. 

Primum  ego  me  illorum,  dederim  quibus  esse  poetas, 
Excerpam  numero  ;  neque  enim  concludere  versum  40 

Dixeris  esse  satis;  neque,  ^si  qui  scribat  uti  nos 
Serin oni  propiora,  putes  hunc  esse  poetam. 
Ingenium  cui  sit,  cui  mens  divinior  atque  os 
Magna  sonaturum,  des  nominis  huius  honorem. 
Idcirtjo  quidam  comoedia  necne  poema 
Esset  quaesivere,  quod  acer  spiritus  ac  vis   ,,^\^ 
Nee  verbis  nee  rebus  inest,  nisi  quod  pede  certo 
Differt  serm'oni,  sermo  merus.     '  At  pater  ardens 
Saevit,  quod  meretr-ice  nepos  insanus  arnica 
Filius  uxorem  grandi  cum  dote  recuset,  50 

Ebrius-et,  magnum  quod  dedecns,  ambulet  ante 
Noctem  cum  facibus.'     Numquid  Pomponius  istis 
Audiret  leyiora,  p^ter  si  viveret  ?     Ergo 
Non  satis  est  rYtms  versum  perscribere  verbis, 
Quern  si  dissolvas,  quiv^is  siomachetur  eodem  55 

Quo  personatus  pacto  pater.     His,  ego  quae  mine, 
Olim  quae  scripsit  Lucilius,  eripias  si 
Tempor'a  certa  modpsque,  et  quod  prius  ordine  verbum  est 
Posterius  facias,  praeponens  ultima  primis, 
Non,  ut  si  solvas  '  postquam  Discordia  taetra  60 

Belli  ferratos  postis  portasque  refregit,' 
Invenias  etiam  disiecti  membra  poetae. 

Hactenus  haec:  alias  iustum  sit  necne  poema; 
Nunc  illud  tantum  quaeram,  meritone  tibi  sit 
Suspectum  genus  hoc  scribendi.     Sulcius  acer  65 

Ambulat  et  Caprius,  rauci  male  cumque  libellis, 
Magnus  uterque  timor  latronibus ;  at  bene  si  quis 
Et  vivat  puris  manibus,  contemna-t  utrumque. 
Ut  sis  tu  similis  Caeli  Birrique  latronum, 


18  SERMONUM  [IV. 

Non  ego  sim  Gapri  neque  Sulci ;  cur  m^etuas  me  ?  70 

,  Nulla  taberna  meos  habeat  neque  pna  libellos, 
Quis  manus  insudet  volgi  Hermogenisque  Tigelli; 
Nee  recito  cuiquam  nisi  amicis,  idque  coactus, 
Non  ubivis  coramve  quibuslibet.     In  medio  qui 
Scripta  f oro  recitent  sunt  rnulti,  quique  lavantes ;  75 

Suave  locus  voci  resonat  conclusus.     Inanis 
Hoc  iuvat,  baud  illud  quaerentis,  num  sine  sensu, 
Tempore  num  faciant  alieno.        ^^ 

1  Eaedere  gaudes,' 

Inquit  '  et  hoc  studio  pravus  facis.'     Unde  petitum 
Hoc  in  me  iacis  ?     Est  &uctor  (Jtiis  'd'enique^  e6rum  *  80 

Vixi  cum  quibus  ?  Absentem  qui  rodit  amicum, 
Qui  non  defendit  alio  culpante,  solutos 
Qui  captat  risus  hominum  famamque  dicacis, 
Fiu^ere  qui  non  visa  potest,  commissa  tacere 
Qui  nequit;  hie  niger  esl,  hunc  tu,  Romane,  caveto.  85 

Saepe  tribus  lectis  videas  cenare  quaternos, 
E  quibus  unus  amet  quavis  aspergere  cunctos 
Praeter  eum  qui  praebet  aquam ;  post  hunc  quoque  potus, 
Condita  cum  verax  aperit  praecordia  Liber. 
Hie  tibi  comis  et  urbanus  liberque  videttir,  90 

Infesto  nigris ;  ego  si  fisi,  quod  ineptus 
Pastillos  Eufillus  olet,  Gargonius  hircum, 
Lividus  et  mordax  videor  tibi  ?     Mentio  si  quae 
De  Capitolini  f uriis  iniecta  Petilli 

Te  coram  f uerit,  defendas  ut  tuus  est  mos  :  95 

e  Me  Capitolinus  convictore  usu^  amicoque 
A  puero  est,  causaque  mea  permulta  rogatus 
Fecit,  et  incolumis  laetor  quod  vivit  in  urbe ; 
Sed  tamen  adiniror  quo  pacto  indicium  illud 
Fugerit.'     Hie  nigrae  sucus  lolligi'nis,  haec  est  100 


Aerugo  mera;  quod  vitium  p^ocul  aJPore' chartis 
Atque  animo  prius,  ut  si  quid  promittere  de  me 


IV.]  LIBER   I.  19 

Possum  aliud  vere,  proraitto. 

Liberius  si 

Dixero  quid,  si  forte  iocosius,  hoc  mihi  iuris 
Cum  venia  dabis ;  insuevit  pater  optimus  hoc  me,  105 

Ut  fugerem  exeinplis  vitiorum  quaeque  notando. 
Cum  me  hortaretur,  parce  frugaliter  atque 
Viverem  uti  contentus  eo  quod  mi  ipse  parasset : 
f  Nonne  vides,  Albi  ut  male  vivat  filius  utque 
Baius  inops  ?     Magnum  documentum,  ne  patriam  rem      110 
Perdere  quis  velit.'     A  turpi  meretricis  ainore 
Cum  deterreret :  e  Scetani  dissimilis  sis.' 
Ne  sequerer  moechas,  concessa  cum  venere  uti 
Possem  :  <  Deprensi  non  bella  est  fama  Treboni ' 
Aiebat.     '  Sapiens,  vitatu  quidque  petitu  115 

Sit  melius,  causas  reddet  tibi ;  mi  satis  est,  si 
Traditum  ab  antiquis  morem  servare  tuamque, 
Dum  custodis  eges,  vitani  (famamque  tueri 
Incolumem  possum ;  srnimac'ti.uraverit  aetas 
Membra  animumque  tuum,  nabis  sine  cortice.'     Sic  me     120 
Forrnabat  puerum  dictis,  et  sive  iubebat^  ^ 
Ut  facerem  quid,  '  habes  auctorem,  quo  facias  hoc/ 
Unum  ex  iudicibus  selectis  obiciebat ; 
Sive  vetabat,  '  an  hoc  inhonestum  et  inutile  factu 
Necne  sit  addubites,  flagret  rumore  malo  cum  125 

Hie  atque  ille  ? ' 

Avidos  vicinum  funus  ut  aegros 
Exanimat  mortisque  metu  sibi  parcere  cogit, 
Sic  tenero's  animos  aliena  opprobria  saepe 
Absterrent  vitiis.     I^h^c.  ego  sanus  ab  illis/"^""1 
Perniciem  quaecumque  ferunt,  mediocribus  et  quis  130 

Ignoscas  vitiis  teneor.     Fortassis  et  istinc 
Largiter  abstulerit  longa  aetas,  liber  amicus, 
Consilium  proprium ;  neque  enim,  cum  lectulus  aut  me 
Porticus  excepit,  desum  mihi.     '  Rectius  hoc  est. 


20  SERMONUM  [V. 

Hoc  faciens  vivam  melius.     Sic  dulcis  amicis  135 

Occurram.     Hoc  qui^am  non  belle;  numquid  ego  illi 
Imprudens  olim  faciam  simile  ? ' 

Haec  ego  mecum 

Compressis  agito  labris  ;  ubi  quid  datur  oti, 
Inhido  chartis.     Hoc  est  mediocribus  illis 
Ex  vitiis  unum ;  cui  si  concedere  nolis,  140 

Multa  poetarum  veniet  manus,  auxilio  quae 
Sit  mihi  —  nam  multo  plures  sumus,  —  ac  veluti  te 
ludaei  cogemus  in  hanc  concedere  turbam. 

V. 
A  JOURNEY  TO   BRUNDISIUM. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Satire :  In  the  year  40  B.C.  Antony  and  Octa- 
vian  became  reconciled,  and  struck  a  treaty  at  Brundisium.    Two  years 
later  Octavian  was  defeated  in  a  naval  engagement  by  Sextus  Pompeius, 
and  despatched  Maecenas  to  Athens,  to  ask  Antony  for  help.      In  the 
spring  of  37  the  latter  appeared  off  Brundisium  with  a  fleet  of  three 
hundred  ships,  and  Octavian,  who  had  meanwhile  repented  of  his  call 
for  aid,  sent  Maecenas,  with  Cocceius  and  Fonteius  Capito,  to  come  to 
terms  with  his  rival.     It  is  the  journey  of  Maecenas  to  Brundisium  on 
this  occasion  which  the  satire  describes.     Maecenas  was  evidently  in 
no  haste,  since  the  trip,  which  might  have  been  made  in  from  six  to 
nine  days,  occupied  fifteen. 

Antony  was  not  allowed  to  land  at  Brundisium,  and  a  treaty  was 
finally  made,  with  some  difficulty,  at  Tarentum. 

Lucilius  had  described  a  journey  from  Rome  to  Capua  and  thence 
along  the  coast  to  the  Straits  of  Messana.  It  is  not  impossible  that 
Horace  placed  this  satire  immediately  after  his  criticism  of  Lucilius 
with  the  purpose  of  challenging  comparison.  An  examination  of  the 
few  extant  fragments  of  the  narrative  of  Lucilius  fully  supports  Hor- 
ace's claim  of  superiority  in  versification  and  general  finish. 

2.  The   Itinerary :    The  distances  are  for  the  most  part  known 
from  inscriptions.    Uncertainty  is  caused  in  three  cases  by  doubt  as  to 
the  exact  location  of  the  villa  near  Trivicum  and  the  oppidulum  quod 
versu  dicere  non  est.    Desjardins  assumes  that  the  travellers  did  not 
spend  the  night  at  Capua  or  at  Beneventum,  while  Gibbon  does  not 
allow  a  night  at  Terracina. 


V.]  LIBER   I.  21 

Distance  in 
Day.  Stopping  place.  Roman  miles          Verses. 


1.  Aricia     ........  16           .  1-3 

2.  Forum  Appi    .......  27           .  3-9 

3.  Night   journey  by   canal-boat,   through  the 

Pomptine  marshes,  to  Lucus  Feroniae         .  16\iq   .  9-23 

Terracina     .......  31.  23-33 


no  f_   .       34-38 
Formiae .         .     13  J 

5.     Sinuessa .         .     181  ^          sg^Q 

Villa  near  Fons  Cainpanus      .        .        .  9  / 


6. 

17 

47_49 

7. 

Villa  of  Cocceius  near  Caudium 

.     21 

.       50-70 

8. 

Beneventum    

.     11 

.       71-76 

9. 

Villa  near  Trivicum        .... 

.     24? 

.       77-81 

10. 

Oppidulum  quod  versu  dicere  non  est     . 

.24? 

.       86-90 

11. 

Canusium        ...... 

.     35? 

.       91-93 

12. 

Rubi        .        .  '      .         .        . 

.     23 

.       94-95 

13. 

Barium   

.     23 

.       96-97 

14. 

Gnatia     ....... 

.     37 

.     97-103 

15. 

Brundisium 

39. 

104 

3.   Time  :  About  37  B.C. 

Egressum  magna  me  accepit  Aricia  Roma 
Hospitio  modico ;  rhetor  comes  Heliodorus, 
Graecorum  longe  doctissimusT^inde  Forum  Appi, 
Differtum  nautis,  cauponibus  atque  malignis. 
Hoc  iter  ignavi  divisimus,  altius  ac  nos  5 

Praecinctis  unum ;  minus  est  gravis  Appia  tardis. 
Hie  ego  propter  aquam,  quod  erat  deterrira'a,  ventri 
Indico  bellum,  cenantis  haud  aniino  aequo 
Exspectans  comites. 

lam  nox  inducere  terris 

Umbras  et  caelo  diffundere  signa  parabat ;  10 

Turn  pueri  nautis,  pueris  coiivicia  nautae 
Ingerere :  '  hue  appelle  !  trecentos  inseris ;  ohe 
lam  satis  est ! '  Dum  aes  exigitur,  dum  mula  ligatur, 
Tota  abit  hora.     Mali  culices  ranaeque  palustres 


22  S.ERMONUM  [V. 

Avertunt  spmnos,  absentem  ut  cantat  amicam  15 

Multa  prolutus  vappa  nauta  atque  viator 

Certatiin.     Tandem  fessus  dormire  viator 

Incipit,  ac  missae  pastum  retinacula  mulae 

Nauta  piger  saxo  religat  stertitque  supinus. 

lamque  dies  aderat,  nil  cum  procedere  lintrem  20 

Sentimus;  donec^cerefrrdsus  prosilit  unus  -  v^ 

Ac  mulae  nautaeque  caput  lumbosque  saligno 

Fuste  dolat ;  quarta  vix  demum  exponimur  hora. 

Ora  manusque  tua  lavimu^,  Feronia,  lympha; 
Milia  turn  pransi  tria  repimus  atque  subimus  25 

Impositum  saxis  late  candentibus  Anxur. 
Hue  venturus  erat  Maecenas  optimus  atque 
Cocceius,  missi  magnis  de  rebus  uterque 
Legati,  aversos  soliti  componere  amicos. 
Hie  oculis  ego  nigra  meis  collyria  lippus^-*^'  30 

Inlinere.     Interea  Maecenas  advenit  atque 
Cocceius,  Capitoque  simul  Fonteius,  ad  ungueni     ^ 
Factus  homo,  Antoni  non  ut  magis  alter  amicus. 

Fundos  Aufidio  Lusco  praetore  liberiter 
Linquimus,  insani  ridentes 'praemia  scribae,  35 

Praetextam  et  latum  clavum  ,prunaeque  vatillum. 
In  Mamurrarum  lassi  deinde  urbe  manemus, 
Murena  praebente  domum,  Capitone  culinam. 

Postera  lux  oritur  multo  gratissima;  namque 
Plotius  et  Varius  Sinuessae  Vergiliusque  40 

Occurrunt,  animae,  qualis  neque  cahdidiores 
Terra  tulit,  neque  quis  me  sit  devinctior  altpr. 
0  qui  complexus  et  gaudia  quanta  f uerunt ! 
Nil  ego  contulerini  iucundo  sanus  amico. 
Proxima  Canipano  ponti  quae  villula,  tectum  45 

Praebuit,  et  parochi  (^1113,6  dgbent  ligna  salemque. 

Hinc  muli  Capuae  clitellas  tempore  ponunt. 
Lusum  it  Maecenas,  dormitum  ego  Vergiliusque : 


V.]  LIBER   I.  23 

Namque  pila  lippis  inimicum  et  ludere  crudis. 

Hinc  nos  Coccei  recipit  plenissima  villa,  50 

Quae  super  est,£audi  cauponas.     Nunc  mihi  paucis 
Sarnienti  scurrae' pugnam  Messique  Cicirri, 
Musa,  velim  memores,  et  quo  patre  natus  uterque 
Contulerit  litis.     Messi  clarum  genus  Osci ; 
Sarnienti  domina  exstat ;  ab  his  maioribus  orti  55 

Ad  pugnam  venere.     Prior  Sarmentus  'Equi  te 
Esse  feri  similem  dico.'     Ridemus,  et  ipse 
Messius  '  Accipio/  caput  et  movet.     '  0,  tua  cornu 
Ni  f oret  exsecto  frons/  inquit,  '  quid  faceres,  cum 
Sic  mutilus  minitaris  ? '     At  illi  f  oeda  cicatrix  60 

Setosam  laevi  frontem  turpaverat  oris. 
Cainpanura4n  morbnm,  in  faciem  permulta  iocatus, 
Pastorem  saltaret  uti  Cyclopa  rogabat ; 
Nil  illi  larva  aut  tragicis  opus  esse  coturnis,   .-^ 
Multa  Qi,cirrus  ad  haec :  donasset  iamne  cate'ham  65 

Ex  voto  Laribus,  quaerebat ;  scriba  quod  esset, 
Nilo  deterius  dominae  ius  esse.     Kogabat 
Denique  cur  umquam  fugisset,  cui  satis  una 
Farris  libra  foret,  gracili  sic  tamque  pusillo. 
Prorsus.  iucunde  cenarn  producimus  illam.  70 

Tendimus  hinc  recta  Beneventuni,  ubi  sedulus  hospes 
Paene  macros  arsit  dum  turdos  versat  in  igni ; 
Nam  vaga  per  veterem  dilapso  flamma  culinam 
Volcano  summum  properabat  lambere  tectuni. 
Con  vivas  avidos  cenam  servosque  timentis  75 

Turn  rapere  atque  omnis  restinguere  velle  videres. 

Incipit  ex  illo  montis  Apulia  notos 
Ostentare  mihi,  quos  torret  Atabulus  et  quos 
Numquam  erepsemus,  nisi  nos  vicina  Trivici 
Villa  recepisset,  lacrimoso  non  sine  fumo,  80 

Udos  cum  foliis  ramos  urente  camino. 

Quattuor  hinc  rapimur  viginti  et  milia  raedis, 


24  SERMONUM  [VI. 

Mansuri  oppidulo,  quod  versu  dicere  non  est, 
Signis  perfacile  est :  venit  vilissima  rerum 
Hicjaqua,  sed  panis  longe  pulcherrimus,  ultra 
Callidus  ut  soleat  umeris  portare  viator.  90 

Nam  Canusi  lapidosus,  aquae  non  ditior  urna 
Qui  locus  a  forti  Diomede  est  conditus  olim. 
Flentibus  hie  Varius  discedit  maestus  amici§.v  ,.. 
Inde  Rubos  fessi  pervenimus,  u£pote  longum 
Carpentes  iter  et  factum  corruptius  imbri.  95 

Postera  tempestas  melior,  via  peior  ad  usque 
Bari  moenia  piscosi ;  ^dein  Gnatia  lymphis 
Iratis  exstructa  credit  risusque  iocosque, 
Dum  flamma  sine  tura  liquescere  limine  sacro. 
Persuadere  cupit.     Credat  ludaeus  Apella,  100 

Non  ego;  namque  deos  didici  securum  agere  aevum, 
Nee,  si  quid  miri  faeiat  natura,  deos  id 
Tristis  ex  alto  caeli  demittere  tecto. 
Brundisium  longae  finis  chartaeque  viaeque  est. 


VI. 

ON  AMBITION. 
ADDRESSED  TO  MAECENAS. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Satire  :  Horace's  friendship  with  Maecenas  had 
evidently  led  to  unkind  and  unfair  criticism,  to  which  he  replies  in  detail. 

2.  Outline :  Worth,  not  station,  makes  the  man.     Therefore  one 
should  not  aspire  to  positions  for  which  one  is  not  fitted.     Horace 
has  never  done  so.     He  owes  his  intimacy  with  Maecenas  to  his  early 
training  and  his  consequent  good  character. 

1.   The  truly  great  estimate  a  man  not  by  his  social  position,  but 

by  his  personal  character : 

a)  Thus  Maecenas,  though  of  royal  lineage,  does  not  despise 
the  lowly  born,  1-6  : 

1)  For  such  men  have  often  shown  themselves  worthy 
of  high  positions,  7-11 ; 


VI.]  LIBER   I.  25 

2)  While  men  of  noble  birth  have  been  despised  even 

by  the  common  herd,  12-17  ; 

&)  Since  the  judgment  of  the  common  people  is  notoriously 
bad,  a  truly  superior  man  of  humble  origin  ought  not  to 
aspire  to  office  : 

1)  For  he  will  be  accused  with  justice  of  being  out  of 

his  sphere,  17-89 ; 

2)  And  it  is  often  some  insignificant  trait  which  catches 

the  popular  fancy,  40-44. 

2.    Horace's  position  as  a  friend  of  Maecenas  is  not  due  to  ambi- 
tion : 

a)  He  is  criticised  because,  though  the  son  of  a  freedman,  he 
was  tribune  under  Brutus  and  is  now  intimate  with  Mae- 
cenas, 45-48 : 

1)  The  first  reproach  is  perhaps  justified  ; 

2)  The  second  is  not,  because  he  did  not  force  himself 

on  Maecenas,  49-62  ; 

6)  He  is  proud  of  the  distinction  because  it  is  a  proof  of  high 
character,  62-64 ; 

c)  But  the  real  credit  belongs  to  his  father : 

1)  For  he  gave  his  son  the  best  possible  educational 

advantages,  65-80 ; 

2)  And  the  benefit  of  his  personal  supervision,  81-84  ; 

3)  Not  that  Horace  might  fit  himself  for  a  high  position, 
but  that  he  might  be  a  cultured  gentleman,  85-88  ; 

d)  Horace  honors  his  father,  and  is  not  ashamed  of  his  parent- 

age.    Besides,  he  would  not,  if  he  could,  change  places 
with  any  man  of  noble  ancestry,  89-99 : 

1)  For  a  high  position  demands  social  duties  and  a  dis- 

play for  which  he  has  no  inclination,  100-109  ; 

2)  And  he  would  be  forced  to  give  up  his  present  sim- 

ple and  independent  life,  110-131. 

3.   Time:  Before  the  gift  of  the  Sabine  farm;  between  37  and 
35  B.C. 

Non  quia,  Maeoj^s,  Lydorum  quid^uid  Etruscos 
Incoluit  finis,  n^j^B^erosior  est  te, 
Nee  quod  avus  I^^Katernns  fuit  atque  paternus,    ^r 
Oliin  qui  inagnis  J^ionibus  imperitarent,  \^ 

TJITplerique  solent,  naso  suspendis  adunco  5 

Ignotos,  lit  me  libertino  patre  natum. 


26  SERMONUM  [VI. 

Cum  referre  negas  quali  sit  quisque  parente 
Natus,  duin  ingenuus,  persuades  hoc  tibi  vere, 
Ante  potestatem  Tulli  atque  ignobile  regnum 
Multos  saepe  viros  nullis  maioribus  ortos  10 

Et  vixisse  probos,  amplis  et  honoribus  auctos; 
Contra  Laevinum,  Yaleri  genus,  unde  Superbus 
Tarquinius  regno  pulsus  fugit,  unius  assis 
Non  umquam  pretio  pluris  licuisse,  notante 
ludice  quo  nosti,  populo,  qui  stultus  honores  15 

Saepe  dat  indignis  et  famae  servit  ineptus, 
Qui  stupet  in  titulis  et  imaginibus. 

Quid  oportet 

Nos  facere  a  volgo  longe  longeque  remotos  ? 
Namque  esto,  populus  Laevino  mallet  honorein 
Quam  Decio  mandare  novo,  censorque  moveret  20 

Appius,  ingenuo  si  non  essem  patre  natus : 
Vel  rnerito,  quoniam  in  propria  non  pelle  quiessem. 
Sed  fulgente  trahit  constrictos  Gloria  curru 
Non  minus  ignotos  generosis.     Quo  tibi,  Tilli, 
Sum  ere  depositum  clavum,nerique  tribune?  25 

Invidia  adcrevit,  private  quae  minor  esset. 
Nam  ut  quisque  insanus  nigris  medium  impediit  crus 
Pellibus  et  latum  demisit  pectore  clavum, 
Audit  continue  ^quis  homo  hie  et  quo  patre  natus  ? ' 
Ut  si  qui  aegrotet  quo  morbo  Barrus,  haberi  30 

Ut  cupiat  formosus,  eat  quacumque,  puellis 
Iniciat  curam  quaerendi  singula,  quali 
Sit  facie,  sura,  quali  pede,  dente,  capillo : 
Sic  qui  promittit,  civis,  urbem  sibi  curae, 
Imperium  fore  et  Italiam,  delul)ra  deorum,  35 

Quo  patre  sit  natus,  num  ignota  matre  inhonestus, 
Omnis  mortalis  curare  et  quaerere  cogit. 
'  Tune,  Syri,  Damae  aut  Dionysi  films,  audes 
Deicere  de  saxo  civis  aut  tradere  Cadnio  ?  ' 


VI.]  LIBER   I.  27 

'  At  Novius  collega  gradu  post  me  sedet  uno ;  40 

Namque  est  ille,  pater  quqd^erat  meus.7     '  Hoc  tibi  Paulus 
Et  Messalla  videris  ?     At  hie,  si  plostra  ducenta 
Concurrantque  f oro  tria  funera^magna^  sonabit 
Cornua  quod  vincatque  tubas  ;  saltern  tenet  hoc  nos.' 

Nunc  ad  me  redeo  libertino  patre  natum,  45 

Quern  rodunt  omnes  libertino  patre  natum, 
Nunc,  quia  sim  tibi,  Maecenas,  convictor,  at  olim, 
Quod  mini  pareret  legio  Romana  tribune. 

Dissimile  hoc  illi  est,  quia  non,  ut  forsit  honorem 
lure  mihi  invideat  quivis,  ita  te  quoque  amicum,  50 

Praesertim  cautum  dignos  adsumere,  prava 
Ambitione  procul.     Felicem  dicere  non  hoc 
Me  possim,  casu  quod  te  sortitus  amicum ; 
Nulla  etenim  mihi  te  fors  obtulit ;  optimus  olim 
Yergilius,  post  hunc  Varius  dixere  quid  essem.  55 

Ut  veni  corain,  singultim  pauca  locutus  —  . 
Inf ans  namque  pudor  prohibebat  plura  prof ari  — 
Non  ego  me  claro  natum  patre,  non  ego  circum 
Me  Satureiano  vectari  rura  caballo, 

Sed  quod  eram  narro.     Eespondes,  ut  tuus  est  mos,  60 

Pauca ;  abeo,  et  revocas  nono  post  mense  iubesque 
Esse  in  amicorum  numero. 

Magnum  hoc  ego  duco, 

Quod  placui  tibi,  qui  turpi  seceruis  honestum, 
Non  patre  praeclaro  sed  vita  et  pectore  puro. 

Atqui  si  vitiis  rnediocribus  ac  rnea  paucis  65 

Mendosa  est  natura,  alioqui  recta,  velut  si 
Egregio  insparsos  reprehendas  corpore  naevos, 
Si  neque  avaritiam  neque  sordis  ac  mala  lustra 
Obiciet  vere  quisquam  mihi,  purus  et  insons, 
Ut  me  conlaudem,  si  et  vivo  carus  amicis,  70 

Causa  fuit  pater  his,  qui  macro  pauper  agello 
Noluit  in  Flavi  ludum  me  mittere,  magni 


28  SERMONUM  [VI. 

Quo  pueri  magnis  e  centurionibus  orti, 

Laevo  suspensi  loculos  tabulamque  lacerto, 

Ibant  octonos  referentes  Idibus  aeris,  75 

Sed  puerum  est  ausus  Eomain  port<are  docendum 

Artis,  quas  doceat  quivis  eques  atque  senator 

Semet  prognatos.     Yestem  servosque  sequentis, 

In  magno  ut  populo,  si  qui  vidisset,  avita 

Ex  re  praeberi  sumptus  mihi  crederet  illos.  80 

Ipse  mihi  custos  incorruptissimus  omnis 

Circum  doctores  aderat.     Quid  multa  ?     Pudicum, 

Qui  primus  virtutis  honos,  servavit  ab  onmi 

Non  solum  facto,  verum  opprobrio  quoque  turpi ; 

Nee  timuit,  sibi  ne  vitio  quis  verteret,  olim  85 

Si  praeco  parvas  aut,  ut  fuit  ipse,  coactor 

Mercedes  sequerer ;  neque  ego  essem  questus.    At  hoc  nunc 

Laus  illi  debetur  et  a  me  gratia  maior. 

Nil  me  paeniteat  sanum  patris  huius ;  eoque 
Non,  ut  magna  dolo  factum  negat  esse  suo  pars,  90 

Quod  lion  ingenues  habeat  clarosque  parentis, 
Sic  me  defendam.     Longe  mea  discrepat  istis 
Et  vox  et  ratio ;  nam  si  natura  iuberet 
A  certis  annis  aevum  remeare  peractum 
Atque  alios  legere  ad  fastum  quoscumque  parentis  95 

Optaret  sibi  quisque,  meis  contentus  honestos 

Fasaibus  et  sellis  nollem  mihi  suniere,  demens 

• — -^__ 

ludicio  volgi,  sanus  fortasse  tuo,  quod 

Nollem  onus  hand  umquam  solitus  portare  molestum. 

Nam  mihi  continue  maior  quaerenda  foret  res  100 

Atque  salutandi  plures,  ducendus  et  unus 
Et  comes  alter,  uti  ne  solus  rusve  peregreve 
Exirem,  plures  calones  atque  caballi 
Pascendi,  ducenda  petorrita.     Nunc  mihi  curto 
Ire  licet  mulo  vel  si  libet  usque  Tarentum,  105 

Mantica  cui  lumbos  onere  ulceret  atque  eques  armos ; 


VI.]  LIBER   I.  29 

yf 

Obiciet  nemo  sordis  mini,  quas  tibi,  Tilli, 

Cum  Tiburte  via  praetorem  quinque  sequuntur   (J 

Te  pueri,  lasanurn  portantes  oenophorumque. 

Hoc  ego  commodius  quam  tu,  praeclare  senator,  no 

Milibus  atque  aliis  vivo.     Quacumque  libido  est, 
Incedo  solus,  percenter  quanti  holus  ac  far, 
Fallacein  circum  vespertiriiimque  pererro 
Saepe  forum,  adsisto  divinis,  inde  domum  me 
Ad  porri  et  ciceris  refero  laganique  catinum ;  115 

Cena  ministratur  pueris  tribus,  et  lapis  albus 
Pocula  cum  cyatho  duo  sustinet,  astat  echinus 
Vilis,  cum  patera  guttus,  Campana  supellex. 
Deinde  eo  dormitum,  noii  sollicitus,  milii  quod  eras 
Surgendum  sit  mane,  obeundus  Marsya,  qui  se  120 

Voltum  ferre  negat  Noviorum  posse  minoris. 
Ad  quartam  iaceo ;  post  hanc  vagor  aut  ego  lecto 
Aut  scripto  quod  me  taciturn  iuvet,  unguor  olivo, 
Non  quo  fraudatis  immuiidus  Natta  lucernis. 
Ast  ubi  me  fessum  sol  acrior  ire  lavatum  125 

Admonuit,  fugio  campum  lusumque  trigonem. 
Pransus  non  avide,  quantum  interpellet  inani 
Ventre  diem  durare,  domesticus  otior.     Haec  est 
Vita  solutorum  misera  anibitione  gravique. 
His  me  consoler  victurum  suavius,  ac  si  -  130 

Quaestor  avus  pater  atque  meus  patruusque  fuisset. 


30  SERMONUM  [VII. 

VII. 
A  CLEVER  PUN. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Satire  :  The  main  point  of  this  brief  but  finished 
satire  is  the  pun  of  Persius,  which  had  evidently  become  the  talk  of 
the  town.     The  incident  occurred  during  Horace's  service  as  tribune 
in  the  army  of  Brutus.     In  43  B.C.  the  latter  went  from  Macedonia 
into  Asia,  to  raise  troops  and  money,  and  to  confer  with  Cassius.     At 
Clazomenae  one  of  his  followers,  P.  Turpilius  Rex,  became  involved  in 
a  lawsuit,  which  was  tried  before  Brutus. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  The  characteristics  of  the  litigants,  1-8  ; 

2.  Their  bitter  animosity,  9-21  ; 

3.  The  speech  of  Persius.     He  lauds  Brutus  and  his  staff,  with 

the  exception  of  Rex,  whom  he  roundly  abuses,  22-27  ; 

4.  Rex  overwhelms  him  with  a  torrent  of  invective,  28-31. 

5.  But  Persius  turns  the  tables  by  his  wit,  32-35. 

3.  Time  :  Opinions  differ  widely.     Some  assert  that  the  story  could 
have  no  point  unless  it  were  told  soon  after  the  event,  and  regard  this 
as  Horace's  earliest  satire.     Others  think  that  his  attitude  towards 
Brutus,  and  the  finished  style,  point  to  a  much  later  date.     The  latter 
view  seems  the  more  probable. 


. 
roscripti  E/egis  Rupili  pus  atque  venenum 

Hybrida  quo  pacto  sit  Persius  ultus,  opinor 
Omnibus  et  lippis  notum  et  tonsoribus  esse. 

Persius  hie  permagna  negotia  dives  habebat 
Clazomeni*s,  etiam  litis  cum  E,ege  molestas,  5 

Durus  homo  atque  odio  qui  posset  vincere  Begem, 
Confidens  tumidusque,  adeo  sermonis  amari, 
Sisennas,  Barros  ut  equis  praecurreret  albis. 

Ad  Eegem  redeo.     Postquam  nihil  inter  utrumque 
Convenit  (hoc  etenim  sunt  omnes  iure  molesti,  10 

Quo  fortes,  quibus  adversum  belluni  incidit  :  inter 
Hectora  Priamiden  animosum  atque  inter  Achillem 
Ira  fuit  capitalis,  ut  ultima  divideret  mors, 


VIII.  ]  LIBER  I.  31 

Non  aliam  ob  causam,  nisi  quod  virtus  in  utroque 
Summa  f uit ;  duo  si  discordia  vexet  inertis  15 

Aut  si  disparibus  bellum  incidat,  ut  Dioniedi 
Cum  Lycio  Glauco,  discedat  pigrior,  ultro 
Muneribus  missis)  :  Bruto  praetore  tenente 
Diteni  Asiam,  Kupili  et  Persi  par  pugnat,  uti  non 
Compositum  melius  cum  Bitho  Bacchius.     In  ius  20 

Acres  procurrunt,  magnum  spectaculum  uterque. 

Persius  exponit  causam ;  ridetur  ab  omni 
Conventu ;  laudat  Brutum  laudatque  cohortem, 
Solem  Asiae  Brutum  appellat  stellasque  salubris 
Appellat  comites,  excepto  Rege ;  canem  ilium  25 

Invisum  agricolis  sidus,  venisse.     Ruebat 
Flumen  ut  hibernuin,  fertur  quo  rara  securis. 

Turn  Praenestinus  salso  multoque  fluent! 
Expressa  arbusto  regerit  convicia,  durus 
Vindemiator  et  invictus,  cui  saepe  viator  30 

Cessisset  magna  compellans  voce  cuculum. 

At  Graecus,  postquam  est  Italo  perfusus  aceto, 
Persius  exclamat :  '  Per  magnos,  Brute,  deos  te 
Oro,  qui  reges  consueris  tollere,  cur  non 
Hunc  Regem  iugulas  ?      Operum  hoc,  mihi  crede,  tuorum 
est/  35 

VIII. 
PRIAPUS  AND  THE  WITCHES. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Satire  :  The  god  Priapus,  warder  of  the  gar- 
dens of  Maecenas,  tells  of  the  gruesome  rites  of  two  witches,  and  how 
he  frightened  them  away. 

The  part  of  the  Esquiline  Hill  which  lay  outside  the  wall  of  Ser- 
vius  Tullius  was  used  until  the  time  of  Augustus  as  a  burial  place  for 
slaves,  criminals,  and  paupers,  who  were  cast  indiscriminately  into 
pits,  together  with  the  carcasses  of  animals  and  general  refuse.  Close 
by  were  the  tombs  and  columbaria  in  which  the  ashes  of  those  who 


32 '  SERMONUM  [VIII. 

were  not  wealthy,  but  could  yet  afford  to  belong  to  a  Burial  Society, 
were  deposited.  This  region  was  the  resort  of  those  who  practised 
magic  rites,  since  such  ceremonies  were  associated  with  the  under- 
world and  with  the  dead. 

At  some  time  which  is  not  exactly  known,  Maecenas  purchased  the 
place,  and  had  it  filled  in  and  laid  out  with  gardens.  Here  also  stood 
his  palace  with  a  high  tower  (c/.  Odes  iii.  29.  10). 

The  tombs  and  columbaria  seem  to  have  been  left  undisturbed  (c/. 
line  36),  and  on  this  account,  or  on  account  of  the  old  associations  of  the 
place,  the  gardens  were  still  sought  by  dealers  in  magic.  Possibly  the 
events  described  in  the  satire  belong  to  a  time  when  the  gardens  had 
been  laid  out,  but  the  building  of  the  palace  had  not  been  completed. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Description  of  the  god  and  his  domain,  1-13  ; 

2.  He  is  annoyed  by  sorcerers,  14-22  ; 

3.  He  describes  the  obscene  rites  of  Canidia  and  Sagana,  23-36 ; 

4.  He  drives  them  away  in  terror,  40-50. 

3.  Time  :  The  exact  date  is  uncertain ;  not  after  35  B.C. 


Olim  truncus  eram  ficulnus,  inutile  lignum, 
Cum  faber,  incertus  scamnum  faceretne  Priapum, 
Maluit  esse  deum.     Deus  inde  ego,  furuin  aviumque 
Maxima  f ormido ;  nam  fures  dextra  coercet ; 
Ast  importunas  volucres  in  vertice  harundo  5 

Terret  fixa  vetatque  novis  considere  in  hortis. 
Hue  prius  augustis  eiecta  cadavera  cellis 
Conservus  vili  portanda  locabat  in  area ; 
Hoc  miserae  plebi  stabat  commune  sepulcrum  ;  1° 

Pantolabo  scurrae  Nomentanoque  nepoti. 
Mille  pedes  in  fronte,  trecentos  cippus  in  agrum 
Hie  dabat,  heredes  monumentum  ne  sequeretur. 

Nunc  licet  Esquiliis  habitare  salubribus  atque 
Aggere  in  aprico  spatiari,  qua  modo  tristes  15 

Albis  informem  spectabant  ossibus  agrum ; 
Cum  mihi  non  tantum  furesque  feraeque  suetae 
Hunc  vexare  locum  curae  sunt  atque  labori, 


VllL]  LIBER   I.  33 

Quantum  carminibus  quae  versant  atque  venenis 
Humanos  animos.     Has  nullo  perdere  possum  20 

Nee  prohibere  modo,  simul  ac  vaga  luna  decorum 
Protulit  os,  quin  ossa  legant  herbasque  nocentis. 

Vidi  egoinet  nigra  succinctam  vadere  palla 
Canidiam  pedibus  nudis  passoque  capillo, 
Cum  Sagana  maiore  ululantem ;  pallor  utrasque  25 

Fecerat  horrendas  adspectu.     Scalpere  terrain 
Unguibus  et  pullam  divellere  mordicus  agnam 
Coeperunt ;  cruor  in  fossam  confusus,  ut  inde 
Manis  elicerent,  animas  responsa  daturas. 
Lanea  et  effigies  erat,  altera  cerea ;  maior  .30 

Lanea,  quae  poenis  compesceret  inferiorem ; 
Cerea  suppliciter  stabat,  servilibus  ut  quae 
lam  peritura  modis.     Hecaten  vocat  altera,  saevam 
Altera  Tisiphonen ;  serpentis  atque  videres 
Infernas  errare  canes,  lunamque  rubentem,  35 

Ne  foret  his  testis,  post  magna  latere  sepulcra. 

Singula  quid  memorem,  quo  pacto  alterna  loquentes        40 
Umbrae  cum  Sagana  resonarint  triste  et  acutum, 
Utque  lupi  barbam  variae  cum  dente  colubrae 
Abdiderint  furtim  terris,  et  imagine  cerea 
Largior  arserit  ignis,  et  ut  non  testis  inultus 
Horrueriin  voces  Furiarum  et  facta  duarum.  45 

****** 

At  illae  currere  in  urbem ; 
Canidiae  dentes,  altum  Saganae  caliendrum 
Excidere  atque  herbas  atque  incantata  lacertis 
Vincula  cum  magno  risuque  iocoque  videres.  50 


34  SERMONUM  [IX. 


IX. 

A   PUSHING  FELLOW. 

1.  Outline :  Horace  describes  his  sufferings  at  the  hands  of  a  de- 
termined fellow,  who  forced  himself  upon  him  in  the  hope  of  being 
presented  to  Maecenas.     The  poet  freely  reveals  his  lack  of  the  moral 
courage  necessary  for  snubbing  his  tormentor.     The  man  very  likely 
had  no  real  existence,  but  merely  represents  a  type  ;  at  any  rate,  all 
attempts  to  identify  him  have  failed. 

1.  The  bore  succeeds  in  attaching  himself  to  Horace  : 

a)  Horace  is  accosted,  and  makes  the  fatal  mistake  of  replying 

politely,  1-8  • 
6)  He  tries  to  rid  himself  of  the  fellow,  but  though  the  latter 

sees  that  his  company  is  unwelcome,  he  refuses  to  be 

shaken  off,  8-19 ; 

c)  The  man  tries  to  recommend  himself  by  enumerating  his 

doubtful  accomplishments,  20-25 ; 

d)  Horace  interrupts  him  but  cannot  speak  his  mind,  26-34  ; 

e)  An  engagement  which  the  man  has  in  court  promises  relief, 

but  he  prefers  to  let  it  go,  35-43. 

2.  After  wearing  out  Horace's  rather  feeble  resistance,  the  man 

reveals  his  purpose  : 
a)  He  assumes  that  Horace's  intimacy  with  Maecenas  is 

prompted  by  self-interest,  and  offers  to  help  him  push 

his  fortunes,  43-48 ; 
6)  Horace  assures  him  that  he  is  mistaken.  His  sense  of 

humor  leads  him  to  encourage  the  fellow,  48-60. 

3.  A  meeting  with  Aristius  Fuscus  gives  Horace  a  ray  of  hope, 

but  the  former,  who  knows  his  friend's  fatal  weakness, 

amuses  himself  at  his  expense  : 
a)  He  pretends  not  to  see  the  situation,  60-66  ; 
6)  He  admits  an  appointment  which  Horace  claims  to  have 

with  him,  but  puts  it  off  to  a  more  favorable  time,  66-74  ; 
c)  The  plaintiff  in  the  lawsuit  plays  the  part  of  a  deus  ex 

machina,  74-78. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  is  uncertain ;  not  after  35  B.C. 

Ibam  forte  Via  Sacra,  sicut  ineus  est  mos 
Nescio  quid  meditans  nugarum  j  totus  in  illis. 


IX.]  LIBER   I.  35 

Accurrit  quidam  notus  mihi  nomine  tantum, 
Arreptaque  manu  'Quid  agis,  dulcissime  rerum?' 

<  Suaviter,  ut  nunc  est/  inquam  '  et  cupio  omnia,  quae  vis.'    5 
Cum  adsectaretur,  <  Numquid  vis  ? '  occupo.     At  ille 
'Noris  nos'  inquit,  'docti  sumus.'     Hie  ego  'Pluris 

Hoc '  inquam  '  mihi  eris.' 

Misere  discedere  quaerens, 
Ire  modo  ocius,  interdum  consistere,  in  aurem 
Dicere  nescio  quid  puero,  cum  sudor  ad  imos  10 

Manaret  talos.     '  0  te,  Bolarie,  cerebri 
Felicem '  aiebam  tacitus,  cum  quidlibet  ille 
Garriret,  vicos,  urbem  laudaret.     Ut  illi 
Nil  respondebam,  '  Misere  cupis'  inquit  'abire; 
lamdudum  video ;  sed  nil  agis  ;  usque  tenebo ;  15 

Persequar.     Hinc  quo  nunc  iter  est  tibi  ? '     '  Nil  opus  est  te 
Circumagi;  quendam  volo  visere  non  tibi  notum. 
Trans  Tiberim  longe  cubat  is  prope  Caesaris  hortos.' 

<  Nil  habeo  quod  agam  et  non  sum  piger ;  iisque  sequar  te.y 

Demitto  auriculas,  ut  iniquae  mentis  asellus," "  20 

Cum  gravius  dorso  subiit  onus.     Incipit  ille : 
'  Si  bene  me  novi,  non  Viscum  pluris  amicum, 
Non  Variuni  f acies ;  nam  quis  me  scribere  pluris 
Aut  citius  possit  versus  ?     Quis  membra  movere 
Mollius  ?     Invideat  quod  et  Hermogenes  ego  canto.7  25 

Interpellandi  locus  hie  erat:  'est  tibi  mater, 
Cognatij  quis  te  salvo  est  opus  ? '    '  Hand  mihi  quisquain. 
Omnis  composui.'     '  Felices  !    Nunc  ego  resto. 
Corifice ;  namque  instat  fatum  mihi  triste,  Sabella 
Quod  puero  cecinit  divina  mota  anus  urnaT:  30 

"Hunq,neque  dira  venena  nee  hosticus  auferet  ensis, 
Nee  laterum  dolor  aut  tussis,  nee  tarda  podagra; 
Garrulus  hunc  quando  consumet  cumque ;  loquaces, 
Si  sapiat,  vitet,  simul  atque  adoleverit  aetas." ' 

Ventum  erat  ad  Vestae,  quarta  iam  parte  diei  35 


36  SERMONUM  [IX. 

Praeterita,  et  casu  tune  respondere  vadato 

Debebat ;  quod  ni  fecisset,  perdere  litem. 

'  Si  me  amas,'  inquit  '  paullum  hie  ades.'     '  Inteream,  si 

Aut  valeo  stare  aut  novi  civilia  iura ; 

Et  propero  quo  scis.'    'Dubius  sum  quid  faciam'  inquit,     40 

*  Tene  relinquam  an  rem.7    '  Me,  sodes.'    '  Non  faciam '  ille, 

Et  praecedere  coepit ;  ego,  ut  contendere  durum  est 

Cum  victore,  sequor. 

1  Maecenas  quomoflo  tecum  ? ' 

Hinc  repetit;  'Paucorum  hominum  et  mentis-iene^ganae; 
Nemo  dexterius  fortuna  est  usus.     Haberes"  45 

Magnum  adiutorem,  posset  qui  ferre  secuadas, 
Hunc  hominem  velles  si  tradere ;  okpeream,  ni 
Summosses  omnis.7     <Non  isto  vivimus  illic 
Quo  tu  rere  modo ;  domus  hac  nee  purior  ulla  est 
Nee  magis  his  aliena  malis  ;<*nil  mi  officit/  inquam,  50 

^I)itior  hie  aut  est  quia  doctior;  est  locus  uni 
Cuique  suus.'     '  Magnum  narras,  vix  credibile.'     ^Atqui 
Sic  habet.7     '  Accendis,  quare  cupiam  magis  illi 
Proxumus  esse.?     ;  Velis  tantummodo ;  quae  tua  virtus, 
Expugnabis ;  et  est  qui  vinci  possit,  eoque  55 

Difficilis  aditus  primes  habet.?     '  Hand  mihi  dero. 
Muneribus  servos  corrumpam  ;  non,  hodie  si 
Exclusus  fuero,  desistam  ;  tempora  quaeram, 
Occurram  in  triviis,  deducam.     Nil  sine  magno 
Vita  labore  dedit  mortalibus.' 

Haec  dum  agit,  ecce  60 

Fuscus  Aristius  occurrit,  mihi  carus,  et  ilium 
Qui  pulchre  nosset.     Consistimus.     '  Unde  venis  ? '  et 
'  Quo  tendis  ? '  rogat  et  responded    Vellere  coepi 
Et  pressare  manu  lentissima  bracchia,  nutans, 
Distorquens  oculos,  ut  me  eriperet.     Male  salsus  Go 

Kidens  dissimulare ;  meum  iecur)urere"  bilis. 
'  Certe  nescio  quid  secreto  velle  loqui  te 


X.]  LIBER   I.  37 

Aiebas  mecum.'     'Memini  bene,  sed  meliore 

Tempore  dicam ;  hodie  tricesima  sabbata ;  vin  tu 

Curtis  ludaeis  oppedere?'     'Nulla  mihi'  inquam  70 

'Religio  est.?     'At  mi;  sum  paullo  infirmior,  unus 

Multorum.     Ignosces ;  alias  loquar.'     Huncine  solem 

Tarn  nigrum  surrexe  mihi !     Fugit  improbus  ac  me 

Sub  cultro  linquit.         ^  ^ 

Casu  venit  obvius  illi 

Adversarius  et  'Quo  tu  turpissime?'  magna  75 

Inclamat  voce,  et  '  licet  antestari  ? '     Ego  vero 
Oppono  auriculam.     Rapit  in  ius;  clamor  utrimque, 
Undique  concursus.     Sic  me  servavit  Apollo. 


X. 

ON  SATIRE. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Satire  :  Horace's  criticism  of  Lucilius  (c/.  iv.) 
had  doubtless  awakened  a  great  deal  of  opposition.     In  this  satire, 
which  forms  the  epilogue  to  his  first  collection,  he  justifies  his  opinion 
of  his  predecessor,  and  more  fully  defines  his  own  position. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  not  only  found  faults  in  Lucilius,  but  good  points  as 

well.     He  repeats  his  previous  statement, 
a)  The  versification  of  Lucilius  is  careless  and  rude,  although 

his  wit  is  keen,  1-6  ; 
&)  His  style  lacks  brevity  and  variety,  7-14  ; 

c)  He  is  too  caustic.     Good-natured  raillery  is  often  more 

effective,  14-19; 

d)  His  admirers  praise  his  free  use  of  Greek  words  and  phrases. 

This  is  really  a  defect,  20-35. 

2.  Horace  defines  his  own  ideal.     He  would  found  a  new  school 

of  satire : 

a)  He  leaves  epic  and  dramatic  poetry  to  others.  He  finds 
himself  best  adapted  to  satire  (c/.  iv.,  Outline,  2,  c,  ff.), 
36-45 ; 

6)  He  does  not  claim  to  equal  Lucilius,  but  this  does  not  pre- 
vent him  from  recognizing,  and  trying  to  avoid,  the 
latter's  faults,  46-64  ; 


38  SERMONUM  [X. 

c)  Lucilius  marks  an   advance  on  his  predecessors.     He   is 

faulty,  however,  when  judged  by  the  higher  standard  of 
Horace's  own  day,  64-71 ; 

d)  Horace  writes  to  please  a  small  and  critical  circle  of  culti- 

vated men.      He  despises  the  verdict  of    the   general 
public,  72-91  ; 

e)  After  thus  defining  his  ideal,  he  launches  his  book,  92. 

3.   Time  :  35  B.C. 

Lucili,  quam  sis  mendosus,  teste  Catone 

Defensore  tuo  pervincam,  qui  male  factos 

Emendare  parat  versus,  hoc  lehius  ille, 

Quo  melior  vir  et  est  longe  subtilior  illo, 

Qui  multum  puer  et  loris  et  funibus  udis  5 

Exoratus,  ut  esset  opem  qui  ferre  poetis 

Antiquis  posset  contra  fastidia  nostra, 

Grammaticorum  equitum  doctissimus.     Ut  redearn  illuc : 

rJ^~ 

Nempe  incomposito  dixi  pede  currere  versus 
Lucili.     Quis  tarn  Lucili  fautor  inepte  est 
Ut  non  hoc  f ateatur  ?     At  idem,  quod  sale  multo 
Urbem  defricuit,  charta  laudatur  eadem. 
Nee  tamen,  hoc  tribuens,  dederim  quoque  cetera ;  nam  sic      5 
Et  Laberi  mimos,  ut  pulchra  poemata,  mirer. 

Ergo  non  satis  est  risu  diducere  rictum 
Auditoris ;  et  est  quaedam  tamen  hie  quoque  virtus. 
Est  brevitate  opus,  ut  currat  sententia  neu  se 
Impediat  verbis  lassas  onerantibus  auris,  10 

Et  sermone  opus  est  modo  tristi,  saepe  iocoso, 
Defendente  vicem  modo  rhetoris  atque  poetae, 
Interdum  urbani  parcentis  viribus  atque 
Extenuantis  eas  consulto. 

Eidiculum  acri 

Fortius  et  melius  magnas  plerumque  secat  res.  15 

Illi,  scripta  quibus  comoedia  prisca  viris  est, 
Hoc  stabant,  hoc  sunt  imitandi ;  quos  neque  pulcher 


X.]  LIBER   I.  39 

Hermogenes  umquam  legit,  neque  simius  iste 
Nil  praeter  Calvum  et  doctus  cantare  Catullum. 

1  At  magnum  fecit,  quod  verbis  Graeca  Latinis  20 

Miscuit.'     0  seri  studiorum,  quine  putetis 
Difficile  et  mirum,  Rhodio  quod  Pitholeonti 
Contigit  ?      At  sermo  lingua  coricinnus  utraque 
Suatfior,  ut  Ohio  nota  si  commixta  Falerni  est.' 
Cum  versus  facias,  te  ipsum  percontor,  an  et  cum  25 

Dura  tibi  peragenda  rei  sit  causa  Petilli  ? 
Scilicet  oblitus  patriae^ua  pati-isque  Latini, 
Cum  Pedius  causas  exsudetPublicola  atque 
Corvinus,  patriis  intermiscere  petita 

Verba  foris  malis,  Canusini  more  bilinguis  ?  30 

Atque  ego  cum  Graecos  facerem,  natus  mare  citra, 
Versiculos,  vetuit  me  tali  voce  Quirinus, 
Post  mediam  noctern  visus,  cum  somnia  vera : 
1  In  silvam  non  ligna  feras  insanius,  ac  si 
Magnas  Graecorum  malis  implerd  catervas.'  35 

Turgidus  Alpinus  iugulat  duni  Memnona  dumque 
Defingit  Rheni  luteum  caput,  haec  ego  ludo, 
Quae  neque  in  aede  sonent  certantia  iudice  Tarpa, 
Nee  redeant  iterum  atque  item  in  spectanda  theatris. 
Arguta  meretrice  potes  Davoque  Chremeta  40 

Eludente  senem  comis  garrire  libellos 
Unus  vivorum,  Fundani ;  Pollio  regum 
Facta  canit  pede  ter  percusso ;  forte  epos  acer 
Ut  nemo  Varius  ducit ;  rnolle  atque  facetum 
Vergilio  adnuerunt  gaudentes  rure  Camenae.  45 

Hoc  erat,  experto  frustra  Varrone  Atacino 
Atque  quibusdam  aliis,  melius  quod  scribere  possem, 
Inventore  minor  ;  neque  ego  illi  detrahere  ausim 
Haerentem  capiti  cum  multa  laude  coronam. 
At  dixi  fluere  hunc  lutulentum,  saepe  ferentem  50 

Plura  quidem  tollenda  relinquendis.     Age,  quaeso, 


40  SERMONUM,  [X. 

Tu  nihil  in  magno  doctus  reprehendis  Homero  ? 

Nil  coinis  tragici  mutat  Lucilius  Aeci, 

Non  ridet  versus  Enni  gravitate  minores, 

Cum  de  se  loquitur  npn  ut  maiore  reprensis  ?  55 

Quid  vetat  et  nosmet  Lucili  scripta  legentis 

Quaerere,  num  illius,  num  re  rum  dura  negarit 

Versiculos  natura  magis  factos  et  euntis 

Mollius,  ac  si  quis  pedibus  quid  claudere  senis, 

Hoc  tantum  contentus,  amet  scripsisse  ducentos  60 

Ante  cibum  versus,  totidem  cenatus  ?     Etrusci 

Quale  fuit  Cassi  rapido  ferventius  amni 

Ingenium,  capsis  quern  fama  est  esse  librisque 

Ambustum  propriis. 

Fuerit  Lucilius,  ir^quam, 

Comis  et  urbanus,  fuerit  liniatior  idem,  65 

Quam  rudis  et  Graecis  intacti  carminis  auctor 
Quamque^  poetarum  seniorum  turba  ;  sed  ille, 
Si  foret  hoc  nostrum  fato  dilatus  in  aevum, 
Detereret  sibi  multa,  recideret  omne  quod^  ultra 
Perfectum  traheretur,  et  in  versu  faciendo  70 

Saepe  caput  scaberet,  vivos  et  roderet  unguis^ 

Saepe  stilum  vertas,  iterum  quae  digna  legi  sint 
Scripturus,  neque  te  ut  miretur  turba  labores, 
Contentus  paucis  lectoribus.     An  tua  demens 
Vilibus  in  ludis  dictari  carmina  malis  ?  75 

Non  ego ;  nam  satis  est  equitem  mini  plaudere,  ut  audax, 
Contemptis  aliis,  explosa  Arbuscula  dixit. 
Men  rnoveat  cimex  Pantilius,  aut  cruciet  quod 
Yellicet  absentem  Demetrius,  aut  quod  ineptus 
Fannius  Hermogenis  laedat  con  viva  Tigelli  ?  80 

Plotius  et  Varius,  Maecenas  Vergiliusque, 
Valgius  et  probet  haec  Octavius  optimus  atque 
Fuscus  et  haec  utinam  Viscorum  laudet  uterque  ! 
Ambitione  relegata  te  dicere  possum, 


X.]  LIBER   I.  R  41 

Pollio,  te,  Messalla,  tuo  cum  fratre,  simulque  85 

Vos,  Bibule  et  Servi,  simul  his  te,  candide  Furni, 
Compluris  alios,  doctos  ego  quos  et  amicos 
Prudens  praetereo ;  quibus  haec,  sint  qualiacumque, 
Arridere  velim,  doliturus,  si  placeant  spe 
Deterius  nostra.     Demetri,  teque,  Tigelli,  90 

Discipularum  inter  iubeo  plorare  cathedras. 
I,  puer,  atque  meo  citus  haec  subscribe  libello. 


SERMONUM 

LIBER    SECUNDUS 


i. 

THE  POET'S  REPLY  TO   HIS  CRITICS. 
A  DIALOGUE  WITH  C.  TREBATIDS  TESTA. 

-  1.  Occasion  of  the  Satire :  The  first  collection  of  Sermones  had 
been  severely  criticized.  In  the  introduction  to  his  second  book 
Horace  justifies  his  choice  of  a  field  for  his  literary  work,  and  an- 
nounces his  determination  to  continue  writing  in  the  same  line. 

2.   Outline: 

1.  Trebatius  advises  Horace  to  give  up  literary  work,  or,  since  he 

insists  that  he  cannot  do  that,  to  turn  to  epic  poetry,  1-12  ; 

2.  Horace  replies  that  he  has  no  gift  for  such  work,  and  that  the 

time  is  not  favorable,  12-20  ; 

3.  He  pleads  an  .uncontrollable  impulse  to  write  satire,  and  re- 

fuses to  be  frightened  from  his  purpose  of  following  his 
bent: 

a)  To  the  threat  that  he  will  incur  general  detestation  he 
replies  that : 

1)  It  is  his  nature  to  write  satire,  21-28; 

2)  He  has  a  good  precedent  in  Lucilius,  28-39  ; 

3)  It  is  his  natural  defensive  weapon.     He  does  not  use 

it,  unless  he  is  attacked,  39-56  ; 

4)  And  he  positively  refuses  to  give  it  up,  57-60  ; 

6)  To  the  warning  that  he  will  lose  his  powerful  friends  he 
replies  that : 

1)  Laelius  and  Scipio  remained  on  terms  of  the  closest 
intimacy  with  Lucilius,  in  spite  of  his  attacks  on 
all  classes  of  society,  60-74  ; 
42 


I.J  LIBER   II.  43 

2)  He  has  enjoyed  the  same  good  fortune,  in  spite  of 

his  humbler  origin  and  ability,  74-79  ; 

c)  When  warned  that  there  is  a  law  against  lampooning  any 
one  with  bad  (i.e.  abusive)  verses,  Horace  refuses  to  take 
the  matter  seriously.  He  writes  only  good  verses,  and 
the  law  does  not  apply  to  him,  79-86. 

3.   Time  :  30  B.C. 


Hor.    Sunt  quibus  in  satura  videar  nimis  acer  et  ultra 
Legem  tendere  opus ;  sine  ner vis  altera  quicquid 
Composui  pars  esse  putat  similisque  meorum 
Mille  die  versus  deduci  posse.     Trebati, 
Quid  faciam,  praescribe.     Treb.    Quiescas.     H.   Ne 

faciam,  inquis,  5 

Omnino  versus  ?     T.   Aio.     H.   Peream  male,  si  non 
Optimum  erat ;  verum  nequeo  dormire.     T.    Ter  uncti 
Transnanto  Tiberim,  somno  quibus  est  opus  alto, 
Irriguumque  mero  sub  noctem  corpus  habento. 
Aut  si  tantus  amor  scribendi  te  rapit,  aude  10 

Caesaris  invicti  res  dicere,  multa  laborum 
Praemia  laturus.     H.    Cupidum,  pater  optinie,  vires 
Deficiunt ;  neque  enim  quivis  horrentia  pilis 
Agmina  nee  fracta  pereuntis  cuspide  Gallos 
Aut  la^entis  equo  describat  vulnera  Parthi.  15 

T.    Attamen  et  iustum  poteras  et  scribere  fortem, 
Scipiadam  ut  sapiens  Lucilius.     H.   Hand  mini  dero, 
Cum  res  ipsa  feret;  nisi  dextro  tempore,  Flacci 
Verba  per  attentam  non  ibunt  Caesaris  aurem, 
Cui  male  si  palpere,  recalcitrat  undique  tutus.  20 

T.   Quanto  rectius  hoc,  quam  tristi  laedere  versu 
Pantolabum  scurram  Nomentanumque  nepotem, 
Cum  sibi  quisque  timet,  quamquam  est  intactus,  et  odit. 
H.   Quid  faciam  ?     Saltat  Milonius,  ut  semel  icto  {— 
Accessit  fervor  capiti  numerusque  lucernis ;  25 

Castor  gaudet  equis,  ovo  prognatus  eodem 


44  SERMONUM  [I. 

Pugnis ;  quot  capitum  vivunt,  totidem  studiorum 
Milia.  ^^^ 

Me  pedibus  delectat  claudere  verba 
Lucili  ritu,  nostrum  melioris  utroque. 

Ille  velut  fidis  arcana  sodalibus  olim  30 

Credebat  libris,  neque  si  male  cesserat  usquam 
Decurrens  alio,  neque  si  bene ;  quo  fit,  ut  omnis 
Votiva  pateat  veluti  descripta  tabella 
Vita  senis.     Sequor  hunc,  Lucanus  an  Apulus,  anceps ; 
Nam  Venusinus  arat  finem  sub  utrumque  colonus,  35 

Missus  ad  hoc  pulsis,  vetus  est  ut  fama,  Sabellis, 
Quo  ne  per  vacuum  Eomano  incurreret  hostis, 
Sive  quod  Apula  gens  seu  quod  Lucania  bellum 
Incuteret  violenta. 

Sed  hie  stilus  hand  petet  ultro 

Quemquam  animantem,  et  me  veluti  custodiet  ensis  40 

Vagina  tectus ;  quern  cur  destringere  coner 
Tutus  ab  infestis  latronibus  ?     0  pater  et  rex 
luppiter,  ut  pereat  positum  robigine  telum, 
Nee  quisquam  noceat  cupido  milii  pacis !     At  ille, 
[TJui  me  commorit  —  melius  non  tangere!  clamo —  45 

Flebit  et  insignis  tota  cantabitur  urbe. 
Cervius  iratus  leges  minitatur  et  urnam, 
Canidia  Albuci  quibus  est  inimica  venenum, 
Grande  malum  Turius,  si  quid  se  iudice  certes. 
Ut  quo  quisque  valet  suspectos  terreat,  utque  50 

Imperet  hoc  natura  potens,  sic  collige  mecum. 
Dente  lupus,  cornu  taurus  petit ;  unde,  nisi  intus 
Monstratum  ?     Scaevae  vivacem  crede  nepoti 
Matrem  ;  nil  faciet  sceleris  pia  dextera  —  mirum, 
Ut  neque  calce  lupus  quemquam  neque  dente  petit  bos;  —  55 
Sed  mala  toilet  anum  vitiato  uielle  cicuta. 

Ne  longum  faciam,  seu  me  tranquilla  senectus 
Exspectat  seu  mors  atris  circumvolat  alis, 


I.J  LIBER   II.  45 

Dives,  inops,  Komae,  seu  fors  ita  iusserit  exsul, 
Quisquis  erit  vitae  scribam  color. 

T.   0  puer,  ut  sis          60 
Vitalis  metuo,  et  maiorum  ne  quis  amicus 
Frigore  te  feriat.     H.   Quid  ?  cum  est  Lucilius  ausus 
Primus  in  hunc  operis  componere  carmina  morem, 
Detrahere  et  pellem,  nitidus  qua  quisque  per  ora 
Cederet,  introrsum  turpis,  num  Laelius  et  qui  65 

DuxiAt  ab  oppressa  meritum  Carthagine  nomen 
Ihgenio  offensi  aut  laeso  doluere  Metello 
Famosisque  Lupo  cooperto  versibus  ?     Atqui 
Primores  populi  arripuit  populumque  tributim, 
Scilicet  uni  aequus  virtuti  atque  eius  amicis.  70 

Quin  ubi  se  a  volgo  et  §caena  in  secreta  remorant 
Virtus  Scipiadae  et  mitis  sapientia  Laeli,       \ 

r  i- 

Nugari  cum  illo  et  discincti  ludere,  donee 
Decoqueretur  holus,  soliti. 

«*r<sOCL  Quicquid  sum  ego,  quamvis 

Infra  Lucili  censum  ingeniumque,  tamen  me  75 

Cum  magnis  vi^isse  invita  fatebitur  usque 
Invidia,  et  fragili  quaerens  inlidere  dentem, 
Offendet  solido,  nisi  quid  tu,  docte  Trebati, 
Dissentis. 

T.   Equidern  nihil  hinc  diffingere  possum ; 
Sed  tamen  ut  monitus  caveas,  ne  forte  negoti  80 

Incutiat  tibi  quid  sanctarum  inscitia  legum ; 
Si  mala  condiderit  in  quern  quis  carmina,  ius  est 
ludiciumque.     H.   Esto,  si  quis  mala ;  sed  bona  si  quis 
ludice  condiderit  laudatus  Caesare  ?  si  quis 
Opprobriis  dignum  latraverit,  integer  ipse  ?  85 

T.   Solventur  risu  tabulae,  tu  missus  abibis. 


46  SERMONUM  [II. 

II. 

A  PLEA  FOR  RATIONAL  LIVING. 

1.  Outline  :  Horace  tells  his  friends  how  an  old  neighbor  of  his,  in 
his  boyhood  days  at  Venusia,  advocated  a  frugal  life,  avoiding  the 
extremes  of  extravagance  and  parsimony ;  and  how  he  lived  happily 
by  practising  what  he  preached. 

1.  Gluttony  and  extravagance  in  diet  are  the  results  of  a  perverted 

taste : 

a)  Correct  ideas  on  the  subject  can  be  gained  only  from  an 
active  life  amid  simple  surroundings,  1-16  ; 

6)  Men's  tastes  are  corrupted  by  over-eating  and  by  lack  of 
exercise,  16-22  ; 

c)  Their  diet  is  regulated  by  fashion  and  by  the  relative  costli- 
ness of  viands,  23-52 ; 

2.  Stinginess  and  sordid  living  are  equally  reprehensible,  53-69 ; 

3.  A  rational  mode  of  life,  avoiding  both  extremes,  has  many 

advantages : 

a)  It  gives  bodily  health,  70-77  ; 
&)  Vigor  and  elasticity  of  mind,  77-81 ; 

c)  Room  for  greater  indulgence  on  festal  days,  when  one's 

strength  must  be  recruited,  and  in  old  age,  82-93  ; 

d)  It  keeps  one  from  moral  and  financial  ruin,  94-101 ; 

e)  Enables  one  to  exercise  charity  and  philanthropy,  101-105  ; 
/)  And  better  to  endure  a  change  of  fortune,  106-111  ; 

4.  These  views  of  Ofellus  are  shown  to  be  true  by  his  own  life, 

and  by  his  happiness  and  contentment  in  prosperity  and 

in  adversity  : 
a)  Horace  testifies  to  the  frugality  of  his  neighbor  before,  as 

well  as  after,  his  change  of  fortune,  112-115  ; 
6)  He  quotes  his  account  of  his  simple  life  in  the  days  of  his 

prosperity,  116-125  ; 
c)  And  tells  of  his  courage  and  contentment  in  adversity, 

126-136. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  is  uncertain  ;  not  after  30  B.C. 

Quae  virtus  et  quanta,  boni,  sit  vivere  parvo  — 

Nee  meus  hie  sermo  est,  sed  quae  praecepit  Ofellus 
Eusticus,  abnormis  sapiens  crassaque  Minerva  — 
Discite  non  inter  lances  mensasque  nitentis, 


II.]  LIBER   II.  47 

Cum  stupet  insamsjLcies  fulgoribus  et  cum  5 

Adclinis  falsis  animus  meliora  recusat,  ^^^ 
Verum  hie  impransi  mecum  disquirite.     Cur  hoc  ? 
Dicam,  si  potero.     Male  verum  examinat  omnis 
Corruptus  iudex.     Leporem  sectatus  equove 
Lassus  ab  indomito  vel,  si  Romana  fatigat  10 

Militia  adsuetum  graecari,  sen  pila  velox 
*  Molliter  austerum  studio  f alien te  laborem        /. 
Seu  te  discus  agit,Qete  cedentem  aera  disco) 
Cum  labor  extuderit  fastidia,  siccus,  inanis 
Sperne  cibum  vilem ;  nisi  Hymettia  mella  Falerno  15 

Ne  biberis  diluta. 

Foris  est  promus,  et  atrum 

Defendens  piscis  liiemat  mare  ;  cum  sale  panis  ^ 

Latrantem  stomachum  bene  leniet.  VJJnde  putas  aut 
Qui  partum  ?     Non  in  caro  nidofe  voluptas  -OA-HAA.\ 
Sum  ma,  sed  in  te  ipso  est.     Tu  pulmentaria  quaere  20 

Sudande- ;  pinguem  vitiis  albumque  neque  ostrea 
Nee  scarus  aut  poterit  peregrina  iuvare  lagois. 
Vix  tamen  eripiam,  posito  pavone  velis  quin 
Hoc  potius  quam  gallina  tergere  palatum, 
Corruptus  vanis  rerum,  quia  veneat  auro  25 

Kara  avis  et  picta  pandat  spectacula  cauda ; 
Tamquam  ad  rein  attineat  quicquam.     Num  vesceris  ista, 
Quam  laudas,  pluma  ?     Cocto  num  adest  honor  idem  ? 
Carne  tamen  quamvis  distat  nil,  hac  magis  illam 
Imparibus  formis  deceptum  te  petere  !     Esto :  30 

Unde  clatum  sentis,  lupus  hie  Tiberinus  an  alto 
Captus  hiet  ?     Pontisne  inter  iactatus  an  amnis 
Ostia  sub  Tusci  ?     Laudas,  insane,  trilibrem 
Mullum,  in  singula  quern  minuas  pulmenta  necesse  est. 
Ducit  te  species,  video:  quo  pertinet  ergo  •*•* ""'  35 

Proceros  odisse  lupos  ?     Quia  scilicet  illis 
Maiorem  natura  moduni  dedit,  his  breve  pondus. 


48  SERMONUM  [II. 

leiunus  raro  stomachus  volgaria  temnit. 

'  Porrectum  magno  magnum  spectare  catino 

Vellem' ait  Harpy iis  gula  digna  rapacibus.     At  vos,  40 

Praesentes  Austri,  coquite  horum  oosonia.     Quamquam 

Putet  aper  rhombusque  recens,  mala  copia  quando 

A^grum  soilicitat  stomachum,  cum  rapula  plenus 

Atque  acidas  mavolt  inulas.     Necdum  omnis  abacta  ^ 

Pauperies  epulis  regum  ;  nam  vilibus  ovis       v**f^rsfl        45 

Nigrisque  est  oleis  hodie  Jocu.s.     Haud  ita  pridem 

Gallon!  praeconis  erat  acipensere  mensa 

Infamis.     Quid?  tune  rhombos  minus  aequora  alebant? 

Tutus  erat  rhombus  tutoque  ciconia  nido, 

Donee  vos  auctor^docuit  praetorius.     Ergo      *A  50 

Si  quis  nunc  m6rgos  suavis  edixerit  assos,  ' 

Parebit  pravi  docilis  Eomana  iuventus. 

Sordidus  a  tenui  victu  distabit,  Ofello 
ludice :  nam  frustra  vitium  vitaveris  illud, 
Si  te  alio  pravum  derorseris.     Avidienus,  55 

Cui  Canis  ex  vero  dictum  cognomen  adhaeret, 
Quinquennis  oleas^st  et  silvestria  corna, 
Ac  nisi  mutatum  parcit  defundere  vinum,  et 
Cuius  odorem  olei  nequeas  perferre,  licebit^" 
Ille  repotia,  natalis  aliosve  dierum  60 

Fe^tjos,  albatus  celebret,  cornu  ipse  bilibri 
Caulibus  instillat,  veteris  non  parcus  aceti. 
Quali  igitur  victu  sapiens  utetur,  et  horum 
Utrum  imitabitur  ?     Hac  urget  lupus,  hac  canis,  aiunt. 
Mundu?4erit,  qua  non  offendat  sordibus,  atque  65 

In  neutram  partem  cultus  miser.     Hie  neque  servis, 
Albuci  senis  exemplo,  dum  munia  didit, 
Saevus  erit;  nee  sic  ut  simplex  Naevius  unctam 
Convivis  praebebit  aquam  :  vitium  hoc  quoque  magnum. 

Accipe  nunc,  victus  tennis  quae  quantaque  secum  70 

Adferat.     In  primis  valeas  bene;  nam  variae  res 


II.]  LIBER   II.  49 

Ut  noceant  homini.  credas,  memor  illius  escae. 
.A* — x«>^.jJU^  >^AXCjA.       '    .M  . 

Quae  simplex  ohm  tibi  sederit ;  at  simul  assis 

Miscueris  elixa,  simul  conchylia  turdis, 

Dulcia  se  in  bilem  vertent  stomachoque  tuinultum  75 

Lenta  feret  pituita.     Vides,  ,ut  pallidus  omnis 

Cena  desurgat  dubia  ?    r^^<*/^ 

Quin  corpus  onustum 

Hesternis  vitiis  animum  quoque  praegravat  una, 
Atque  adfigit  hunio  divinae  particulam  aurae. 
Alter,  ubi  dicto  citius  curata  sopori  80 

Membra  dedit,  vegetus  praescripta  ad  munia  surgit. 

j/   Hie  tamen  ad  melius  poterit  transcurrere  quondam ; 

/  Sive  diem  festum  rediens  advexerit  annus, 
Seu  recreare  volet  tenuatum  corpus,  ubique 
Accedent  anni,  et  tractari  mollius  aetas  85 

Imbecilla  volet;  tibi  quidnam  accedet  ad  istam, 
Quam  puer  et  validus^^raesumis  mollitiem,  seu 
Dura  valetudo  inciderit  seu  tarda  senectus  ? 
Ranfcidum  aprurn  antiqui  laudabant,  non  quia  nasus 
Illis  nullus  erat,  sed,  credo,  liac^mente,  quod  hospes  90 

Tardius  adveniens  vitiatum  commodms  quam 
Integrum  edax  dominus  consumeret.     Hos  utinam  inter 
Heroas  natum  tellus  me  prima  tulisset ! 

Das  aliquid  famae,  quae  carmine  gratior"  aurem 
Occupat  humanam  ?     Grandes  rhombi  patinaeque  95 

Grande  ferunt  una  cum  damno  dedecus.     Adde 
Iratrum  patruum,  vicinos,  te  tibi  iniquum 
Ej^froistra  mortis  cupidum,  cum  derit  egenti 

3  As,  laquei  pretium.     '  lure '  inquit  '  Trausius  istis 
lurgatur  verbis ;  ego  vectigalia  magna  100 

Divitiasque  habeo  tribus  amplas  regibus.' 

Ergo 

Quod  superat  non  est  melius  quo  insumere  possis  ? 
Cur  eget  indignus  quisquam  te  divite  ?     Quare 


50  SERMONUM  [II. 

Templa  ruunt  antiqua  deum  ?     Cur,  improbe,  carae 

Non  aliquid  patriae  tanto  emetiris  acervo*?    (  105 

Uni  nimirum  tibi  recte  semper  erunt  res, 
O  magnus  posthac  inimicis  risus  !     Uterne 
Ad  casus  dubios  fidet  siFi  certius  ?     Hie  qui 
Pluribus  adsuerit*  mentem  corpusque  superbum, 
An  qui  contentus  parvo  metuensque  futuri  HO 

In  pace,  ut  sapiens,  aptarit  idonea^llo? 
^Quo  magis  his  credas,  puer^huKc  ego  parvus  Ofellum 
Integris  opibus  n^siwnlatius  u,sum, 
Quam  nunc  aWisis.     Videas  me'tato  in  agello 
Cum  pecore  et  gnatis  fortem  mercede  colonum,  115 

'  Non  ego7  narrantem '<  temere  edi  luce  profesta 
Quicquam  praeter  holus  fumosae  cum  pede  pernae. 
Ac  mini  seu  longum  post  tempus  venerat  hospes 
Sive  operum  vacua  gratus  con  viva  per  imbrem 
Vicinus,  bene  erat  non  piscibus  urbe  petitis,  120 

Sed  pullo  atque  haedo ;  tune  pensilis  uva  secundas 
Et  nux  ornabat  mensas  cum  duplice  ficu. 
Post  hoc  ludus  erat  culpa  potare  ina^istra ; 
Ac  venerata  Ceres,  ita  culmo  surgeret  alto, 
Explicuit  vino  contractae  seria  frontis. 
Saeviat  atque  novos  moveat  fortuna  tumultus : 
Quantum  hinc  imminuit  ?     Quanto  aut  ego  parcius  aut  vos, 
O  pueri,  nitfuistis,  ut  hue  novus  incola  venit  ? 
Nam  propriae  telluris  erum  natura  nee  ilium 
Nee  me  nee  quemquam  statuit ;  n^os  expulit  ille ;  130 

Ilium  aut  nequities  aut  vafri  inscitia  iuris, 
Postremum  expellet  certe  vivacior  heres. 
Nunc  ager  Umbreni  sub  nomine,  nuper  Ofelli 
Dictus,  erit  nulli  proprius,  sed  cedet  in  usum 
Nunc  mihi,  nunc  alii.     Quocirca  vivite  fortes  135 

Fortiaque  adversis  opponite  pectora  rebus/ 


III.]  LIBER   II.  51 

III. 

ON  THE  MADNESS  OF  MANKIND. 

A  DIALOGUE  WITH  DAMASIPPUS. 
1.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  has  gone  to  his  Sabine  farm  for  the  holidays.     Daraa- 

sippus  appears  and  reproaches  him  for  not  writing  more, 
1-18. 

2.  He  explains  himself  by  saying  that,  since  his  business  career 

ended  in  bankruptcy,   he  has  busied   himself  with  the 
affairs  of  others,  18-26. 

3.  Horace  says  that  that  is  only  another  kind  of  folly  ;  whereupon 

his  visitor  retorts  that  Horace  himself,  in  common  with 
all  the  rest  of  the  world,  is  mad,  26-36. 

4.  When  Damasippus  would  drown  himself,  Stertinius  saved  his 

life  by  convincing  him  that  all  men,  except  the  philoso- 
pher, are  equally  mad  and  foolish,  37-46. 

5.  He  quotes  the  arguments  of  the  Stoic : 

a)  Everyone  who  is  foolish  and  ignorant  of  the  truth  is  a  mad- 
man.  This  insanity  manifests  itself  in  various  ways,  46-81 ; 
6)  The  avaricious  are  mad  : 

1)  Because  they  believe  that  poverty  is  a  disgrace,  and 

that  wealth  confers  every  blessing  —  even  wisdom, 
82-103  ; 

2)  Because  they  hoard  up  riches  which  they  are  too 

stingy  to  use,  104-119 ; 

3)  They  may  not  seem  mad,  because  avarice  is  so  com- 

mon, but  they  really  are,  120-141 ; 

4)  Think  of  Opimius,  who  would  not  spend  a  few  pence 

in  nourishing  food,  even  to  save  his  life,  142-157  ; 

c)  The  ambitious  are  mad  : 

1)  For  they  sacrifice  their  fortunes  for  office  and  empty 

glory,  158-186 ; 

2)  Agamemnon,   who  sacrificed  his  daughter  to  his 

ambition,  was  as  mad  as  Ajax  when  he  slew  the 
sheep.  We  should  not  question  the  madness  of  a 
man  who  treated  a  lamb  like  a  favorite  daughter. 
How  about  one  who  led  his  daughter  like  a  lamb 
to  the  slaughter  ?  187-223. 

d)  The  prodigal  is  mad  : 

1)  If  a  young  heir  should  distribute   his  patrimony 
among  the  purveyors  of  luxuries,  we  should  call 


52  SERMONUM  [III. 

him  mad.     This  is  what  the  prodigal  really  does, 
224-238 ; 
2)  A  man  who  squanders  money  on  costly  dainties 

might  as  well  throw  it  into  a  sewer,  239-246  ; 
c)  The  amorous  are  all  crazy  : 

1)  For  a  young  man  to  indulge  in  child's  play  is  a  sign 

of  madness.     It  is  equally  so  to  sigh  for  love,  247- 
257; 

2)  The  petulant  lover  can  learn  wisdom  even  from  a 

slave,  258-271  ; 

3)  What  of  the  silly  superstitions  and  the  childish  bab- 

ble of  old  men,  and  the  crimes  committed  by  jeal- 
ous lovers  ?  272-280 ; 
/)  The  superstitious  are  insane  : 

1)  For  instance,  the  man  who  prayed  that  he  might  live 

forever,  281-287  ; 

2)  And  the  mother  who  sacrificed  her  child's  life  to  a 

mad  vow,  288-295. 

6.  Damasippus  says  that  Horace  is  no  exception  to  the  general 

rule,  296-307  : 

a)  For  he  is  building  a  house,  in  imitation  of  the  great  and  the 
wealthy,  308-320  ; 

6)  He  writes  satire,  is  hot-tempered,  extravagant,  and  amor- 
ous, 321-325. 

7.  Horace  begs  for  mercy  from  his  superior  —  in  madness,  326. 

2.   Time  :  33-32  B.C. 


Dam.    Sic  raro  scribis,  ut  toto  non  quater  anno 
Membranam  poscas,  scriptorum  quaeque  retexens, 
Iratus  tibi,  quod  vini  somnique  benignus 
Nil  dignum  sermone  canas ;  quid  net  ?     At  ipsis 
Saturnalibus  hue  fugisti  sobrius.     Ergo  5 

Die  aliquid  dignum  promissis.     Incipe.     Nil  est. 
Culpantur  frustra  calami,  immeritusque  laborat 
Iratis  natus  paries  dis  atque  poetis. 
Atqui  voltus  erat  multa  et  praeclara  minantis, 
Si  vacuum  tepido  cepisset  villula  tecto.  10 

Quorsum  pertinuit  stipare  Platona  Menandro  ? 
Eupolin,  Archilochum,  comites  educere  tautos  ? 


III.]  LIBER  II.  53 

Invidiam  placare  paras  virtute  relicta  ? 

Contemnere  miser  !     Vitanda  est  improba  Siren 

Desidia,  aut  quicquid  vita  meliore  parasti  15 

Ponendum  aequo  animo.     HOT.   Di  te,  Damasippe,  deaeque 

Verum  ob  consilium  donent  tonsore.     Sed  unde 

Tain  bene  me  nosti  ? 

D.   Postquam  omnis  res  mea  lanum 
Ad  medium  fracta  est,  aliena  negotia  euro 
Excussus  propriis.     Olim  nam  quaerere  amabam,  20 

Quo  vafer  ille  pedes  lavisset  Sisyphus  acre, 
Quid  sculptum  infabre,  quid  fusum  durms  esset. 
Callidus  huic  signo  ponebam  milia  centum; 
Hortos  egregiasque  domos  mercarier  unus 
Cum  lucro  noram  ;  unde  frequ-entia  Mercuriale  25 

Imposuere  mihi  cognomen  com  pita.     //.   Novi, 
Et  miror  morbi  purgatum  te  illius.     Atqui 
Emovit  veterem  mire  novus,  ut  solet,  in  cor 
Traiecto  lateris  miseri  capitisve  dolore, 
Ut  lethargicus  hie  cum  fit  pugil  et  medicum  urget.  30 

Dum  ne  quid  simile  huic,  esto  ut  libet.     D.   O  bone,  ne  te 
Frustrere,  insanis  et  tu,  stultique  prope  omnes, 
Si  quid  Stertinius  veri  crepat,  unde  ego  mira 
Descripsi  docilis  praecepta  haec,  tempore  quo  me 
Solatus  iussit  sapientem  pascere  barbam  35 

Atque  a  Fabricio  non  tristem  ponte  reverti. 

Nam  male  re  gesta  cum  vellem  mittere  operto 
Me  capite  in  flumen,  dexter  stetit  et  "  Cave  faxis 
Te  quicquam  indignum ;  pudor  "  inquit  "  te  malus  angit, 
Insanos  qui  inter  vereare  insanus  haberi.  40 

Primum  nam  inquiram,  quid  sit  furere ;  hoc  si  erit  in  te 
Solo,  nil  verbi,  pereas  quin  fortiter,  addam. 
Quern  mala  stultitia  et  quemcumque  inscitia  veri 
Caecum  agit,  insanum  Chrysippi  porticus  et  grex 
Autumat.     Haec  populos,  haec  magnos  formula  reges,        45 


54  SERMONUM  [III. 

Excepto  sapiente,  tenet. 

Nunc  accipe,  quare 

Desipiant  omnes  aeque  ac  tu,  qui  tibi  nomen 
Insano  posuere.     Velut  silvis,  ubi  passim 
Palantis  error  certo  de  tramite  pellit, 

Ille  sinistrorsum,  hie  dextrorsum  abit,  unus  utrique  50 

Error,  sed  variis  inludit  partibus ;  hoc  te 
Crede  modo  insanum,  nihilo  ut  sapientior  ille, 
Qui  te  deridet,  caudam  trahat.     Est  genus  unurn 
Stultitiae  nihilum  metuenda  timentis,  ut  ignis, 
Ut  rupes  fluviosque  in  campo  obstare  queratur.  55 

Alteruin  et  huic  varum  et  nihilo  sapientius  ignis 
Per- medios  fluviosque  ruentis  :  clamet  arnica 
Mater,  honesta  soror  cum  cognatis,  pater,  uxor 
'  Hie  fossa  est  ingens,  hie  rupes  maxima :  serva ! ' 
Non  magis  audierit,  quam  Fufius  ebrius  olim,  60 

Cum  Ilionam  edormit,  Catienis  mille  ducentis 
*  Mater,  te  appello '  clamantibus.     Huic  ego  volgus 
Errori  similem  cunctum  insanire  docebo. 
Insanit  veteres  statuas  Damasippus  emendo ; 
Integer  est  mentis  Damasippi  creditor  ?     Esto.  65 

'  Accipe  quod  numquam  reddas  mihi '  si  tibi  dicam, 
Tune  insanus  eris  si  acceperis  ?  an  magis  excors, 
Reiecta  praeda  quam  praesens  Mercurius  fert  ? 
Scribe  decem  a  Nerio ;  non  est  satis  :  adde  Cicutae 
Nodosi  tabulas  centum,  mille  adde  catenas ;  -  70 

Effugiet  tamen  haec  sceleratus  vincula  Proteus. 
Cum  rapies  in  ius  malis  ridentem  alienis, 
Fiet  aper,  modo  avis,  modo  saxum  et,  cum  volet,  arbor. 
Si  male  rem  gerere  insani  est,  contra  bene  sani, 
Putidius  multo  cerebrum  est,  mihi  crede,  Perelli  75 

Dictantis,  quod  tu  numquam  rescribere  possis. 

Audire  atque  togam  iubeo  componere,  quisquis 
Ambitione  mala  aut  argenti  pallet  amore, 


III.]  LIBER   II.  55 

Quisquis  luxuria  tristive  superstitione 

Aut  alio  mentis  morbo  calet ;  hue  propius  me,  80 

Dum  doceo  insanire  omnis,  vos  ordine  adite. 

Danda.est  ellebori  multo  pars  maxima  avaris; 
Nescio  an  Anticyram  ratio  illis  destinet  omnem. 
-Heredes  Staberi  summam  incidere  sepulcro, 
Ni  sic  fecissent,  gladiatorum  dare  centum  85 

Darnnati  populo  paria  atque  epulum  arbitrio  Arri, 
Frumenti  quantum  metit  Africa.     '  Sive  ego  prave 
Seu  recte  hoc  volui,  ne  sis  patruus  mihi.'     Credo, 
Hoc  Staberi  prudentem  animum  vidisse.     '  Quid  ergo 
Sensit,  cum  summam  patrimoni  insculpere  saxo  90 

Heredes  voluit  ? '     Quoad  vixit,  credidit  ingens 
Pauperiem  vitium  et  cavit  nihil  acrius,  ut,  si 
Forte  minus  locuples  uno  quadrante  perisset, 
Ipse  videretur  sibi  nequior ;  omnis  enim  res, 
Virtus,  fama,  decu's,  divina  humanaque  pulchris  95 

Divitiis  parent ;  quas  qui  construxerit,  ille 
Clarus  erit,  fortis,  iustus.     '  Sapiensne  ? '     Etiam,  et  rex 
Et  quicquid  volet.     Hoc,  veluti  virtute  paratum, 
Speravit  magnae  laudi  fore.     Quid  simile  isti 
Graecus  Aristippus,  qui  servos  proicere  aurum  100 

In  media  iussit  Libya,  quia  tardius  irent 
Propter  onus  segnes  ?     Uter  est  insanior  horum  ? 
Nil  agit  exemplum,  litem  quod  lite  resolvit. 

Si  quis  emat  citharas,  emptas  comportet  in  unum, 
Nee  studio  citharae  nee  musae  deditus  ulli,  105 

Si  scalpra  et  formas  non  sutor,  nautica.vela 
Aversus  mercaturis,  delirus  et  amens 
Undique  dicatur  merito.     Qui  discrepat  istis, 
Qui  nummos  aurumque  recondit,  nescius  uti 
Compositis  metuensque  velut  contingere  sacrum  ?  no 

Si  quis  ad  ingentem  frumenti  semper  acervum 
Porrectus  vigilet  cum  longo"  f uste,  neque  illinc 


56  SERMONUM  [III. 

Audeat  esuriens  dominus  contingere  granum ; 

Ac  potius  foliis  parcus  vescatur  amaris ; 

Si  positis  intus  Chii  veterisque  Falerni  us 

Mille  cadis,  nihil  est,  ter  centum  milibus,  acre 

Potet  acetum ;  age,  si  et  stramentis  incubet  unde- 

Octoginta  annos  natus,  cui  stragula  vestis, 

Blattarum  ac  tinearum  epulae,  putrescat  in  area ; 

Nimirum  insanus  paucis  videatur,  eo  quod  120 

Maxima  pars  hominum  morbo  iactatur  eodem. 
Filius  aut  etiam  haec  libertus  ut  ebibat  heres, 
Dis  inimice  senex,  custodis  ?     Ne  tibi  desit  ? 
Quantulum  enim  summae  curtabit  quisque  dierum, 
Unguere  si  caules  oleo  meliore  caputque  125 

Coeperis  impexa  foedum  porrigine  ?     Quare, 
Si  quidvis  satis  est,  periuras,  surripis,  aufers 
Undique  ?     Tun  sanus  ?     Populum  si  caedere  saxis 
Incipias  servosve  tuos,  quos  aere  pararis, 
Insanum  te  omnes  pueri  clamentque  puellae ;  130 

Cum  laqueo  uxorem  interimis  matremque  veneno, 
Incolumi  capite  es  ?    Quid  enim  ?    Neque  tu  hoc  facis  Argis, 
Nee  ferro  ut  demens  genetricem  occidis  Orestes. 
An  tu  reris  eum  occisa  insanisse  parente, 
Ac  non  ante  malis  dementem  actum  Furiis  quam  135 

In  matris  iugulo  ferrum  tepefecit  acutum  ? 
Quin,  ex  quo  est  habitus  male  tutae  mentis  Orestes, 
Nil  sane  fecit  quod  tu  reprehendere  possis ; 
Non  Pyladen  ferro  violare  aususve  sororem 
Electran,  tantum  maledicit  utrique  vocando  140 

Hanc  Furiam,  hunc  aliud,  iussit  quod  splendida  bilis. 

Pauper  Opimius  argenti  positi  intus  et  auri, 
Qui  Veientanum  festis  potare  diebus 
Camparia  solitus  trulla  vappamque  profestis, 
Quondam  lethargo  grandi  est  oppressus,  ut  heres  145 

lam  circum  loculos  et  clavis  laetus  ovansque 


III.]  LIBER   II.  57 

Curreret.     Hunc  medicus  multum  celer  atque  fidelis 

Excitat  hoc  pacto :  mensam  poni  iubet  atque 

Effundi  saccos  nummorum,  accedere  pluris 

Ad  numerandum  :  hominem  sic  erigit,  addit  et  illud :         150 

*  Ni  tua  custodis,  avidus  iam  haec  auf eret  heres.' 

'Men  vivo?'  'Ut  vivas  igitur,  vigila.   Hoc  age!'  '  Quid  vis?' 

1  Deficient  inopem  venae  te,  ni  cibus  atque 

Ingens  accedit  stomacho  fultura  ruenti. 

Tu  cessas  ?     Agedum,  sume  hoc  tisanarium  oryzae.'          155 

1  Quanti  emptae  ? '    '  Parvo.'    '  Quanti  ergo  ? '    '  Octussibus.' 

<Eheu, 
Quid  refert  morbo  an  furtis  pereamque  rapinis^? ' 

'  Quisnam  igitur  sanus  ? '   Qui  non  stultus.    <  Quid  avarus  ? ' 
Stultus  et  insanus.     '  Quid,  si  quis  non  sit  avarus, 
Continuo  sanus  ? '     Minime.     '  Cur,  Stoice  ? '     Dicam.       160 
Non  est  cardiacus  —  Craterum  dixisse  putato  — 
Hie  aeger ;  recte  est  igitur,  surgetque  ?     Megabit, 
Quod  latus  aut  renes  morbo  temptentur  acuto. 
Non  est  periurus  neque  sordidus,  immolet  aequis 
Hie  porcum  Laribus  :  verum  ambitiosus  et  audax ;  165 

Naviget  Anticyram.     Quid  enim  differt  barathrone 
Dones  quicquid  habes,  an  numquam  utare  paratis  ? 
Servius  Oppidius  Canusi  duo  praedia,  dives 
Antique  censu,  gnatis  divisse  duobus 

Fertur  et  haec  moriens  pueris  dixisse  vocatis  170 

Ad  lectum :  <  Postquam  te  talos,  Aule,  nucesque 
Ferre  sinu  laxo,  donare  et  ludere  vidi, 
Te,  Tiberi,  numerare,  cavis  abscondere  tristem ; 
Extimui,  ne  vos  ageret  vesania  discors, 
Tu  Nomentanum,  tu  ne  sequerere  Cicutam.  175 

Quare  per  divos  oratus  uterque  Penatis, 
Tu  cave  ne  minuas,  tu  ne  maius  facias  id, 
Quod  satis  esse  putat  pater  et  natura  coercet. 
Praeterea  ne  vos  titillet  gloria,  iure 


58  SERMONUM  [III. 

lurando  obstringam  ambo :  uter  aedilis  fueritve  180 

Vestrum  praetor,  is  intestabilis  et  sacer  esto. 

ID  cicere  atque  f aba  bona  tu  perdasque  lupinis, 

Latus  ut  in  circo  spatiere  et  aeneus  ut  stes, 

Nudus  agris,  nudus  nummis,  insane,  paternis ; 

Scilicet  ut  plausus,  quos  fert  Agrippa,  feras  tu,  185 

Astuta  ingenuum  volpes  imitata  leonem  ? ' 

<Ne  quis  humasse  velit  Aiacem,  Atrida,  vetas  cur  ?' 
'Bex  sum.'     ' Nil  ultra  quaero  plebeius.'     'Et  aequam 
Rem  imperito ;  ac  si  cui  videor  non  iustus,  inulto 
Dicere  quod  sentit  permitto.'     '  Maxime  regum,  190 

Di  tibi  dent  capta  classem  redducere  Troia.  ^ 
Ergo  consulere  et  mox  respondere  licebit  ? ' 
'  Consule.'     '  Cur  Aiax  heros  ab  Achille  secundus 
Putescit,  totiens  servatis  clarus  Achivis, 
Gaudeat  ut  populus  Priami  Priamusque  inhumato,  195 

Per  quern  tot  iuvenes  patrio  caruere  sepulcro  ? ' 
'Mille  ovium  insanus  morti  dedit,  inclitum  Ulixen 
Et  Menelaum  una  mecum  se  occidere  clamans.' 
'  Tu  cum  pro  vitula  statuis  dulcem  Aulide  gnatam 
Ante  aras  spargisque  mola  caput,  improbe,  salsa,  200 

Rectum  animi  servas  cursum  ? '     Insanus  quid  enini  Aiax 
Fecit,  cum  stravit  ferro  pecus  ?     Abstinuit  vim 
Uxore  et  gnato ;  mala  multa  precatus  Atridis, 
Non  ille  aut  Teucrum  aut  ipsum  violavit  Ulixen.' 
'  Verum  ego,  ut  haerentis  ad  verso  litore  navis  205 

Eriperem,  prudens  placavi  sanguine  divos.' 
'Nempe  tuo,  furiose.'     (Meo,  sed  non  furiosus.' 
'Qui  species  alias  veris  scelerisque  tumultu 
Permixtas  capiet,  commotus  habebitur,  atque 
Stultitiane  erret,  nihilum  distabit,  an  ira.  210 

Aiax  immeritos  cum  occidit,  desipit,  agnos ; 
Cum  prudens  scelus  ob  titulos  adrnittis  inanis, 
Stas  animo  et  purum  est  vitio  tibi,  cum  tumidum  est  cor  ?' 


III.]  LIBER   II.  59 

Si  quis  lectica  nitidam  ge  stare  amet  agnam, 

Huic  vestem  ut  gnatae  paret,  ancillas  paret,  aurum,  215 

Rufain  aut  Pusillam  appellet  fortiqtie  marito 

Destinet  uxorem ;  interdicto  huic  omne  adimat  ius 

Praetor  et  ad  sanos  abeat  tutela  propinquos. 

Quid  ?  si  quis  gnatam  pro  muta  devovet  agna, 

Integer  est  animi  ?    Ne Idixeris.     Ergo  ubi  prava  220 

Stultitia,  hie  suinma  est  insania ;  qui  sceleratus 

Et  f uriosus  erit ;  quern  cepit  vitrea  f ama, 

Hunc  circumtonuit  gaudens  Bellona  cruentis. 

Nunc  age,  luxuriam  et  Nomentanum  arripe  mecum :" 
Vincet  enim  stultos  ratio  insanire  nepotes.  225 

Hie  simul  accepit  patrimoni  rnille  talenta, 
Edicit,  piscator  uti,  pomarius,  auceps, 
Unguentarius  ac  Tusci  turba  impia  vici, 
Curn  scurris  fartor,  cum  Velabro  omne  macellum 
Mane  domum  veniant.   Quid  turn  ?   Venere  f requentes ;     230 
Verba  facit  leno :  '  Quicquid  rnihi,  quicquid  et  horum 
Cuique  domi  est,  id  crede  tuum  et  vel  nunc  pete  vel  eras.7 
Accipe  quid  contra  iuvenis  respondent  aequus. 
t  In  nive  Lucana  dorrnis  ocreatus,  ut  aprum 
Cenem  ego ;  tu  piscis  hiberno  ex  aequore  verris.  235 

Segnis  ego,  indignus  qui  tantum  possideam ;  aufer ! 
Sume  tibi  deciens.  Tibi  tantundem.  Tibi  triplex, 
Unde  uxor  media  currit  de  nocte  vocata.' 

Filius  Aesopi  detractam  ex  aure  Metellae, 
Scilicet  ut  deciens  solidum  absorberet,  aceto  240 

Diluit  insignem  bacarn :  qui  sanior,  ac  si 
Illud  idem  in  rapidum  flumen  iaceretve  cloacam  ? 
Quinti  progenies  Arri,  par  nobile  fratrum, 
Nequitia  et  nugis,  pravorum  et  am  ore  gemellum, 
Luscinias  soliti  impenso  prandere  coemptas,  245 

Quorsum  abeant  ?     Sani  ut  creta  an  carbone  notati  ? 

Aedificare  casas,  plostello  adiungere  mures, 


60  SERMONUM  [III. 

Ludere  par  impar,  equitare  in  arundine  longa 

Si  quern  delectet  barbatum,  amentia  verset. 

Si  puerilius  his  ratio  esse  evincet  amare,  250 

Nee  qnicquam  differe,  utrumne  in  pulvere,  trimus 

Quale  prius,  ludas  opus,  an  meretricis  amore 

Sollicitus  plores :  quaero,  f aciasne  quod  olim 

Mutatus  Polemon  ?  ponas  insignia  morbi, 

Fasciolas,  cubital,  focalia,  potus  ut  ille  255 

Dicitur  ex  collo  furtim  carpsisse  coronas, 

Postquam  est  inipransi  correptus  voce  magistri  ? 

Porrigis  irato  puero  cum  poma,  recusat ; 
'  Sume,  catelle ! '  negat ;  si  non  des,  optet.     Amator 
Exclusus  qui  distat,  agit  ubi  secum,  eat  an  non,  260 

Quo  rediturus  erat  non  arces situs,  et  haerat 
Invisis  foribus  ?     '  Nee  nunc,  cum  me  vocet  ultro, 
Accedam  ?     An  potius  mediter  finire  dolores  ? 
Exclusit ;  revocat.     Kedeam  ?    Non,  si  obsecret.7   Ecce 
Servus,  non  paulo  sapientior  :  '  0  ere,  quae  res  265 

Nee  modum  habet  neque  consilium,  ratione  modoque 
Tractari  non  volt.     In  amore  haec  sunt  mala,  belluni, 
Pax  rursum ;  haec  si  quis  tempestatis  prope  ritu 
Mobilia  et  caeca  fluitantia  sorte  laboret 
Beddere  certa  sibi,  nihilo  plus  explicet  ac  si  270 

Insanire  paret  certa  ratione  modoque/ 
Quid  ?  cum  Picenis  excerpens  sernina  pomis 
Gaudes,  si  cameram  percusti  forte,  penes  te  es  ? 
Quid  ?  cum  balba  feris  annoso  verba  palato, 
Aedificante  casas  qui  sanior  ?     Adde  cruorem  275 

Stultitiae,  atque  ignem  gladio  scrutare.     Modo,  inquam 
Hellade  percussa  Marius  cum  praecipitat  se, 
Cerritus  fuit?  an  commotae  crimine  mentis 
Absolves  hominem,  et  sceleris  damnabis  eundem, 
Ex  more  imponens  cognata  vocabula  rebus  ?  280 

Libertinus  erat,  qui  circum  compita  siccus 


III.]  LIBER   II.  61 

Lautis  mane  senex  m ambus  currebat  et  '  unum  — 

Quid  tarn  magnum  ?  '  addens  — '  unum  me  surpite  morti ; 

Dis  etenim  facile  est '  orabat ;  sanus  utrisque 

Auribus  atque  oculis ;  mentem,  nisi  litigiosus,  285 

Exciperet  dominus,  cum  venderet.     Hoc  quoque  volgus 

Chrysippus  ponit  fecunda  in  gente  Menem. 

'  luppiter,  ingentis  qui  das  adimisque  dolores,' 
Mater  ait  pueri  menses  iam  quinque  cubantis, 
'  Frigida  si  puerum  quartana  reliquerit,  illo  290 

Mane  die,  quo  tu  indicis  ieiunia,  nudus 
In  Tiberi  stabit.'     Casus  medicusve  levarit 
Aegrum  ex  praecipiti ;  mater  delira  necabit 
In  gelida  fixum  ripa  febrimque  reducet. 
Quone  inalo  mentem  concussa  ?     Timore  deorum."  295 

Haec  mihi  Stertinius,  sapientum  octavus,  amico 
Arma  dedit,  posthac  ne  compellarer  inultus. 
Dixerit  insanum  qui  me,  totidem  audiet  atque 
Respicere  ignoto  discet  pendentia  tergo. 

H.  Stoice,  post  damnum  sic  vendas  omnia  pluris,  300 

Qua  me  stultitia,  quoniam  non  est  genus  unum, 
Insanire  putas  ?  ego  nam  videor  mihi  sanus. 
D.  Quid  caput  abscisum  demens  cum  portat  Agave 
Gnati  inf elicis,  sibi  tune  furiosa  videtur  ? 
H.  Stultum  me  f ateor  —  liceat  concedere  veris  —  305 

Atque  etiam  insanum ;  tantum  hoc  edissere,  quo  me 
Aegrotare  putes  animi  vitio.     D.  Accipe  :  primurn 
Aedificas,  hoc  est,  longos  imitaris,  ab  imo 
Ad  summum  totus  moduli  bipedalis,  et  idem 
Corpore  maiorem  rides  Turbonis  in  armis  310 

Spiritum  et  incessum :  qui  ridiculus  minus  illo  ? 
An  quodcumque  facit  Maecenas,  te  quoque  verum  est 
Tantum  dissiinilem  et  tanto  certare  minorem  ? 
Absentis  ranae  pullis  vituli  pede  pressis, 
Unus  ubi  effugit,  matri  denarrat,  ut  ingens  315 


62  SERMONUM  [IV. 

Belua  cognates  eliserit.     Ilia  rogare 

Quantane  ?  num  tantum,  sufflans  se,  inagna  fuisset  ? 

'  Maior  dimidio  ? ?     '  Num.  tanto  ? ?     '  Cum  magis  atque 

Se  magis  inflaret,  '  non,  si  te  ruperis '  inquit, 

'  Par  eris.'     Haec  a  te  non  multum  abludit  imago.  320 

Adde  poemata  nunc,  hoc  est,  oleum  adde  camino ; 

Quae  si  quis  sanus  fecit,  sanus  facis  et  tu. 

Non  dico  horrendam  rabiem.  .  .  .   H.  Iain  desine.    D.  Cultum 

Maiorem  censu  ...     H.  Teneas,  Damasippe,  tuis  te. 

D.  Mille  puellarum,  puerorum  mille  furores.  ...  325 

H,  0  maior  tandem  parcas  insane  minor! ! 

IV. 

ON  DINING  AS  A  FINE   ART. 

A  DIALOGUE  WITH  M.  CATIUS. 
1.   Outline : 

1.  Horace  accosts  Catius,  who  is  rushing  off  to  commit  to  writing 

a  discourse  on  the  subject  of  good-living,  1—3. 

2.  He  apologizes  for  his  untimely  interruption,  but  begs  Catius  to 

give  him  an  outline  of  the  discourse,  which  he  finally 
consents  to  do,  4-11 : 

a)  Rules  for  the  appetizers  (gustatio}  : 

1)  For  selecting  eggs  and  cabbages,  12-16  ; 

2)  For  making  a  fowl  tender,  17-20 ; 

3)  For  selecting  mushrooms  and  berries,  20-23  ; 

4)  For  the  preparation  of  mulsum,  24-29  ; 

5)  For  selecting  shell-fish,  30-34. 

b)  Rules  for  the  dinner  (mensa  prima)  : 

1)  The  cooking  and  seasoning  of  fish  is  as  important  as 

their  selection,  35-39 ; 

2)  The  meats  should  be  carefully  chosen,  40-47  ; 

3)  The  preparation  and  mixing  of  the  wines  is  equally 

important,  48-57  ; 

4)  How  to  stimulate  a  jaded  appetite,  58-62  j 

5)  How  to  make  good  sauce,  63-69. 

c)  Rules  for  the  dessert  (mensa  secunda}  : 

1)  The  selection  of  fruits  and  raisins,  70-72  ; 

2)  Original  work  of  the  lecturer,  73-75. 


IV.]  LIBER   II.  63 

d)  Proper  service  is  essential : 

1)  The  servants  should  be  neat  and  the  dishes  clean, 76-80 ; 

2)  All  the  accessories  should  be  tasteful  and  neat,  81-87. 
3.    Horace  pretends  to  be  greatly  impressed.     His  sarcastic  words 

show  his  real  opinion  of  such  trifling,  and  reveal  the  pur- 
pose of  the  satire,  88-95. 
2.   Time :  The  exact  date  is  uncertain  ;  not  after  30  B.C. 

Hor.  Unde  et  quo  Catius  ?   Cat.  Non  est  mihi  tempus  aventi 
Ponere  signa  novis  praeceptis,  qualia  vincunt 
Pythagoran  Anytique  reum  doctumque  Platona. 
H.  Peccatum  fateor,  cum  te  sic  tempore  laevo 
Interpellarim  ;  sed  des  veniam  bonus,  oro.  5 

Quod  si  interciderit  tibi  nunc  aliquid,  repetes  mox, 
Sive  est  naturae  hoc  sive  artis,  mirus  utroque. 
C.  Quin  id  erat  curae,  quo  pacto  cuncta  tenerem, 
Utpote  res  tenuis,  tenui  sermone  peractas. 
H.  Ede  hominis  nomen,  simul  et,  Romanus  an  hospes.        10 

(7.    Ipsa  memor  praecepta  canara,  celabitur  auctor. 
Longa  quibus  facies  ovis  erit,  ilia  memento, 
Ut  suci  melioris  et  ut  magis  alba  rotundis, 
Ponere ;  namque  marem  cohibent  callosa  vitellum 
Cole  suburbano  qui  siccis  crevit  in  agris  15 

Dulcior;  irriguo  nihil  est  elutius  horto. 
Si  vespertinus  subito  te  oppresserit  hospes, 
Ne  gallina  malum  responset  dura  palato, 
Doctus  eris  vivam  musto  mersare  Falerno ; 
Hoc  teneram  faciet.     Pratensibus  optima  fungis  20 

Natura  est ;  aliis  male  creditur.     Ille  salubris 
Aestates  peraget,  qui  nigris  prandia  moris 
Finiet,  ante  gravem  quae  legerit  arbore  solem. 
Aufidius  f orti  miscebat  mella  Falerno ; 

Mendose,  quoniam  vacuis  committere  venis  25 

Nil  nisi  lene  decet ;  leni  praecordia  mulso 
Prolueris  melius.     Si  dura  morabitur  alvus, 
Mitulus  et  viles  pellent  obstantia  conchae 


64  SERMONUM  [IV. 

Et  lapathi  brevis  herba,  sed  albo  non  sine  Coo. 

Lubrica  nascentes  irnplent  conchylia  lunae  ;  30 

Sed  non  oinne  mare  est  generosae  fertile  testae : 

Murice  Baiano  melior  Lucrina  peloris, 

Ostrea  Circeis,  Miseno  oriuntur  echini, 

Pectinibus  patulis  iactat  se  molle  Tarentum. 

Nee  sibi  cenarum  quivis  temere  arroget  artem,  35 

Non  prius  exacta  tenui  ratione  saporum. 
Nee  satis  est  cara  piscis  averrere  mensa, 
Ignarum  quibus  est  ius  aptius  et  quibus  assis 
Languidus  in  cnbitum  iam  se  conviva  reponet. 
Umber  et  iligna  nutritus  glande  rotundas  40 

Curvat  aper  lances  carnem  vitantis  inertem ; 
Nam  Laurens  malus  est,  ulvis  et  arundine  pinguis. 
Vinea  submittit  capreas  non  semper  edulis. 
Fecundi  leporis  sapiens  sectabitur  armos. 
Piscibus  atque  avibus  quae  natura  et  foret  aetas,  45 

Ante  meum  nulli  patuit  quaesita  palatum. 
Sunt  quorum  ingenium  nova  tantum  crustula  promit. 
Nequaquam  satis  in  re  una  consumere  curam ; 
Ut  si  quis  solum  hoc,  mala  ne  sint  vina,  laboret, 
Quali  perfundat  piscis  securus  olivo.  50 

Massica  si  caelo  suppones  vina  sereno, 
Nocturna,  si  quid  crassi  est,  tenuabitur  aura 
Et  decedet  odor  nervis  inimicus ;  at  ilia 
Integrum  perdunt  lino  vitiata  saporem. 
Surrentina  vafer  qui  miscet  faece  Falerna  55 

Vina,  columbine  limum  bene  colligit  ovo, 
Quatenus  ima  petit  volvens  aliena  vitellus. 

Tostis  marcentem  squillis  recreabis  et  Afra 
Potorem  coclea ;  nam  lactuca  innatat  acri 
Post  vinum  stomacho ;  perna  magis  et  magis  hillis  60 

Flagitat  immorsus  refici,  quin  omnia  malit, 
Quaecumque  immundis  fervent  adlata  popinis. 


IV.]  LIBER    II.  65 

Est  operae  pretiurn  duplicis  pernoscere  iuris 
Naturam.     Simplex  e  dulci  constat  olivo, 
Quod  pingui  miscere  mero  inuriaque  decebit  65 

Non  alia  quam  qua  Byzantia  putuit  orca. 
Hoc  ubi  confusum  sectis  inferbuit  herbis 
Corycioque  croco  sparsuni  stetit,  insuper  addes 
Pressa  Venafranae  quod  baca  remisit  olivae. 

Picenis  cedunt  pomis  Tiburtia  suco  ;  70 

Nam  facie  praestant.     Vennuncula  convenit  ollis ; 
Rectius  Albanam  fumo  duraveris  uvam. 
Hanc  ego  cum  malis,  ego  faecem  primus  et  allec. 
Primus  et  invenior  piper  album  cum  sale  nigro 
Incretum  puris  circumposuisse  catillis.  75 

Immane  est  vitium,  dare  milia  terna  macello 
Angustoque  vagos  piscis  urgere  catino. 
Magna  movet  stomacho  fastidia,  seu  puer  unctis 
Tractavit  calicem  manibus,  dum  furta  ligurrit, 
Sive  gravis  veteri  craterae  limus  adhaesit.  80 

Vilibus  in  scopis,  in  mappis,  in  scobe  quantus 
Consistit  sumptus  ?     Neglectis,  flagitium  ingens. 
Ten  lapides  varios  lutulenta  radere  palma, 
Et  Tyrias  dare  circum  inlota  toralia  vestis, 
Oblitum,  quanto  curam  sumptumque  minorem  85 

Haec  habeant,  tanto  reprehendi  iustius  illis, 
Quae  nisi  divitibus  nequeunt  contingere  mensis? 

H.  Docte  Cati,  per  amicitiam  divosque  rogatus, 
Ducere  me  auditum,  perges  quocumque,  memento. 
Nam  quamvis  memori  referas  mihi  pectore  cuncta,  90 

Non  tamen  interpres  tantundem  iuveris.     Adde 
Voltum  habitumque  hominis,  quern  tu  vidisse  beatus 
Non  magni  pendis,  quia  contigit ;  at  mihi  cura 
Non  mediocris  inest,  fontis  ut  adire  remotos 
Atque  haurire  queam  vitae  praecepta  beatae.  95 


66  SERMONUM  [V. 

V. 

ON  WILL   HUNTING. 
A  DIALOGUE  BETWEEN  ODYSSEUS  (ULIXES)  AND  TIRESIAS. 

1.  Outline  : 

1.  Ulixes  asks  Tiresias  how  he  can  enrich  himself,  since  a  man 

must  have  wealth  to  be  respected,  1-8  ; 

2.  The  seer  advises  him  to  pay  court  to  the  rich  and  childless,  in 

order  to  be  remembered  in  their  wills,  9-17  ; 

3.  Ulixes  objects,  but  yields  when  Tiresias  tells  him  it  is  his  only 

hope,  18-22. 

4.  The  latter  then  describes  the  details  of  the  art : 

a)  The  will-hunter  must  not  shrink  from  any  service,  and  he 
must  not  be  discouraged  by  failure,  23-44  ; 

6)  It  is  well  to  pay  court  also  to  a  rich  man  who  has  one  sickly 
son,  in  order  to  be  named  second  heir,  45-50  ; 

c)  If  offered  the  will  to  read  he  must  put  it  aside,  not,  how- 

ever, without  a  hasty  glance  at.  its  provisions.     The  story 
of  the  old  woman  of  Thebes,  51-69  ; 

d)  He  must  not  neglect  the  man's  favorites,  though  he  should 

pay  special  attention  to  the  testator  himself,  70-88  ; 

e)  He  must  study  his  victim's  peculiarities  and  adapt  himself 

to  them,  88-98  ; 

/)  When  his  goal  is  reached,  he  must  make  a  proper  show  of 
grief,  and  at  once  lay  his  toils  for  another  prize,  99-110. 

2.  Time  :  30  B.C. 

Ulixes.  Hoc  quoque,  Tiresia,  praeter  narrata  petenti 
Responds,  quibus  amissas  reparare  queam  res 
Artibus  atque  modis.     Quid  rides?     Tiresias.  larane  doloso 
Non  satis  est  Ithacam  revehi  patriosque  penatis 
Aspicere?     U.  O  nulli  quicquam  mentite,  vides  ut  5 

Nudus  inopsque  domum  redeam  te  vate,  neque  illic 
Aut  apotheca  procis  intacta  est  aut  pecus  :  atqui 
Et  genus  et  virtus,  nisi  cum  re,  vilior  alga  est. 

T.  Quando  pauperiem  missis  ambagibus  horres, 
Accipe  qua  ratione  queas  ditescere.     Ttirdus  10 

Sive  aliud  privum  dabitur  tibi,  devolet  illuc, 
Res  ubi  magna  nitet  domino  sene;  dulcia  poraa 


V.]  LIBER   II.  67 

Et  quoscumque  feret  cultus  tibi  fundus  honores, 

Ante  Larein  gustet  venerabilior  Lare  dives ; 

Qui  quamvis  periurus  erit,  sine  gente,  cruentus  15 

Sanguine  fraterno,  fugitivus,  ne  tamen  illi 

Tu  comes  exterior,  si  postulet,  ire  recuses. 

U.  Utne  tegam  spurco  Damae  latus?     Haud  ita  Troiae 

Me  gessi,  certans  semper  melioribus.     T.  Ergo 

Pauper  eris.     U.  Fortem  hoc  animum  tolerare  iubebo ;       2° 

Et  quondam  maiora  tuli.     Tu  protinus,  unde 

Divitias  aerisque  main,  die  augur,  acervos. 

T.  Dixi  equidem  et  dico.     Captes  astutus  ubique 
Testamenta  senum,  neu,  si  vafer  unus  et  alter 
Insidiatorem  praeroso  fugerit  hamo,  25 

Aut  spem  deponas  aut  artem  inlusus  omittas. 
Magna  minorve  f oro  si  res  certabitur  olim, 
Vivet  uter  locuples  sine  gnatis,  improbus,  ultro 
Qui  meliorem  audax  vocet  in  ius,  illius  esto 
Defensor ;  f ama  civem  causaque  priorem  30 

Sperne,  domi  si  gnatus  erit  fecundave  coniunx. 
'Quinte'  puta  aut  'Publi' —  gaudent  praenomine  molles 
Auriculae  — '  tibi  me  virtus  tua  fecit  amicum ; 
Ius  anceps  novi,  causas  defendere  possum  ; 
Eripiet  quivis  oculos  citius  mihi  quam  te  35 

Contemptum  cassa  nuce  pauperet ;  haec  mea  cura  est, 
Ne  quid  tu  perdas,  neu  sis  iocus.'     Ire  domum  atque 
Pelliculam  curare  iube;  fi  cognitor  ipse; 
Persta  atque  obdura,  seu  rubra  Canicula  findet 
Infantis  statuas  seu  pingui  tentus  omaso  4° 

Furius  hibernas  cana  nive  conspuet  Alpis. 
'Nonne  vides'  aliquis  cubito  stantem  prope  tangens 
Inquiet,  'ut  patiens,  ut  amicis  aptus,  ut  acer? ' 
Plures  adnabunt  thunni  et  cetaria  crescent. 

Si  cui  praeterea  validus  male  films  in  re  45 

Praeclara  sublatus  aletur ;  ne  manifestuni 


68  SERMONUM  [V. 

Caelibis  obsequium  nudet  te,  leniter  in  spem 

Arrepe  officiosus,  uti  scribare  secundus 

Heres  et,  si  quis  casus  puerum  egerit  Oreo. 

In  vacuum  venias  ;  perraro  haec  alea  f  allit.  50 

Qui  testamentum  tradet  tibi  cumque  legendum, 
Abnuere  et  tabulas  a  te  removere  memento, 
Sic  tamen,  ut  limis  rapias  quid  prim  a  secundo 
Cera  velit  versu ;  solus  multisne  coheres, 
Veloci  percurre  oculo.     Plerumque  recoctus  55 

Scriba  ex  quinqueviro  corvum  deludet  hiantem, 
Captatorque  dabit  risus  Nasiea  Corano. 
U.  Num.  furis  ?  An  prudens  ludis  me  obscura  canendo  ? 
T.  0  Laertiade,  quicquid  dicam,  aut  erit  aut  non; 
Divinare  etenim  magnus  mini  donat  Apollo.  60 

U.  Quid  tamen  ista  velit  sibi  fabula,  si  licet,  ede. 
T.  Tempore  quo  iuvenis  Parthis  horrendus,  ab  alto 
Demissum  genus  Aenea,  tellure  marique 
Magnus  erit,  forti  nubet  procera  Corano 
Filia  Nasicae,  metuentis  reddere  soldum.  65 

Turn  gener  hoc  f aciet :  tabulas  socero  dabit  atque 
Ut  legat  orabit ;  multum  Nasica  negatas 
Accipiet  tandem  et  tacitus  leget,  invenietque 
Nil  sibi  legatum  praeter  plorare  suisque. 

Illud  ad  haec  iubeo ;  mulier  si  forte  dolosa  70 

Libertusve  senem  delirum  temperet,  illis 
Accedas  socius ;  laudes,  lauderis  ut  absens  : 
Adiuvat  hoc  quoque,  sed  vincit  longe  prius  ipsum 
Expugnare  caput.     Scribet  mala  carmina  vecors  ; 
Laudato.     Scortator  erit ;  cave  te  roget ;  ultro  75 

Penelopam  facilis  potiori  trade.     U.  Putasne, 
Perduci  poterit  tarn  frugi  tamque  pudica, 
Quam  nequiere  proci  recto  depellere  cursu  ? 
T.  Venit  enim  magnum  donandi  parca  iuventus, 
Nee  tantum  Veneris  quantum  studiosa  culinae ;  80 


V.]  LIBER   II.  69 

Sic  tibi  Penelope  f  rugi  est ;  quae  si  semel  uno 

De  sene  gustarit  tecum  partita  lucellum, 

Ut  canis  a  corio  numquam  absterrebitur  uncto. 

Me  sene,  quod  dicam  factum  est :  anus  improba  Thebis 

Ex  testamento  sic  est  elata:  cadaver  85 

Unctum  oleo  largo  nudis  umeris  tulit  heres, 

Scilicet  elabi  si  posset  mortua ;  credo, 

Quod  niniium  institerat  viventi. 

Cautus  adito, 

Neu  desis  operae,  neve  iminoderatus  abundes. 
Difficilem  et  morosum  offendet  garrulus  ;  ultra  90 

Non  etiam  sileas.     Davus  sis  coraicus  atque 
Stes  capite  obstipo,  multuni  similis  metuenti. 
Obsequio  grassare;  mone,  si  increbruit  aura, 
Cautus  uti  velet  carum  caput ;  extrahe  turba 
Oppositis  umeris  ;  aurem  substringe  loquaci.  95 

Inportunus  amat  laudari ;  donee  i  Ohe  iam ! ' 
Ad  caelum  manibus  sublatis  dixerit,  urge  et ; 
Crescentem  tumidis  infla  sermonibus  utrem. 

Cum  te  servitio  longo  curaque  levarit, 

Et  certum  vigilans,  '  Quartae  esto  partis  Ulixes,  100 

Audieris,  ' heres;'  'Ergo  nunc  Dama  sodalis 
Nusquam  est  ?     Unde  mini  tarn  fortem  tamque  fidelem  ? ' 
Sparge  subinde  et,  si  paullurn  potes,  inlacrimare ;  est 
Gaudia  prodentem  voltum  celare.     Sepulcrum 
Permissum  arbitrio  sine  sordibus  exstrue ;  funus  105 

Egregie  factum  laudet  vicinia.     Si  quis 
Forte  coheredum  senior  male  tussiet,  huic  tu 
Die,  ex  parte  tua  sen  fundi  sive  domus  sit 
Emptor,  gaudentem  nummo  te  addicere.     Sed  me 
Imperiosa  trahit  Proserpina ;  vive  valeque.  no 


70  SERMONUM  [VI. 

VI. 
THE   DELIGHTS   OF   COUNTRY  LIFE. 

1.  Outline :   Horace  finds  life  on  his  Sabine  Farm  more  agreeable 
than  the  distractions  of  the  metropolis. 

1.  He  has  his  heart's  desire  and  envies  no  man.     He  prays  only 

for  a  continuance  of  his  present  blessings  and  for  intel- 
lectual activity,  1-15 ; 

2.  He  can 'find  no  better  subject  for  his  muse  than  the  praises  of 

country  life,  16-23  : 

a)  Life  in  Rome  is  full  of  care  and  annoyance : 

1)  A  thousand  and  one  duties  call  him  forth  in   all 

weathers,  and  keep  him  in  a  constant  turmoil, 
23-39  ; 

2)  Even  his  friendship  with  Maecenas  is  a  cause  of 

envy  and  of  constant  demands  for  information 
on  political  matters,  40-58. 

b)  Life  in  the  country  abounds  in  simple  pleasures  and  in 

opportunities  for  self-improvement : 

1)  He  is  able  to  read  and  to  devote  himself  to  literary 

work,  59-62  ; 

2)  At  table  there  is  simple  fare  and  improving  convjer- 

sation,  63-76 ; 

3)  A  rural  neighbor  points  morals  by  means  of  fables. 

For  example,  to  teach  contentment  with  one's 
lot,  he  tells  the  fable  of  the  Town  and  the 
Country  Mouse,  77-79  : 

(a)  The  Country  Mouse  entertains  his  friend 

from  the  city,  79-89  ; 
(6)  The  latter  induces  him  to  go  to  town,  90- 

100; 

(c)  But  the  luxurious  surroundings  do  not  make 
up  for  the  dangers  which  accompany 
them,  and  the  rustic  prefers  his  quiet 
country  life,  100-117. 

2.  Time:  31-30  B.C. 

Hoc  erat  in  votis :  modus  agri  non  ita  magnus, 
Hortus  ubi  etvtecto  vicinus  iugis  aquae  fons 
Et  paullum  silvae  super  his  foret.     Auctius  atque 


VI.]  LIBER   II.  71 

Di  melius  fecere.     Bene  est.     Nil  amplius  oro, 

Maia  nate,  nisi  ut  propria  haec  mihi  munera  faxis.  5 

Si  neque  inaiorem  feci  rations  mala  rem, 

Nee  sum  facturus  vitio  culpave  minorem  ; 

Si  veneror  stultus  nihil  horum :  '  0  si  angulus  ille 

Proximus  accedat,  qni  nunc  denormat  agellum ! 

O  si  urnam  argenti  fors  quae  mihi  monstret,  ut  illi  10 

Thesauro  invento  qui  mercennarius  agrum 

Ilium  ipsum  mercatus  aravit,  dives  amico 

Hercule  ! '  Si,  quod  adest,  gratum  iuvat,  hac  prece  te  oro : 

Pingue  pecus  domino  facias  et  cetera  praeter 

Ingenium,  utque  soles,  custps  mihi  maximus  adsis !  15 

Ergo  ubi  me  in  montis  et  in  arcem  ex  urbe  removi,    • 
Quid  prius  inlustrem  saturis  Musaque  pedestri  ? 
Nee  mala  me  ambitio  perdit  nee  plumbeus  Auster 
Autumnusque  gravis,  Libitinae  quaestus  acerbae. 
Matutine  pater,  seu  lane  libentius  audis,  20 

Unde  homines  operum  primes  vitaeque  labores 
Instituunt  —  sic  dis  placitum,  —  tu  carminis  esto 
Principium.     Romae  sponsorem  me  rapis.     ( Heia, 
Ne  prior  officio  quisquam  respondeat,  urge.' 
Sive  Aquilo  radit  terras  seu  bruma  nivalem  25 

Interiore  diem  gyro  trahit,  ire  necesse  est. 
Postmodo,  quod  mi  obsit  clare  certumque  locuto 
Luctandum  in  turba  et  facienda  iniuria  tardis. 
'  Quid  vis,  insane,  et  quas  res  agis  ?  '  improbus  urget 
Iratis  precibus :  'Tu  pulses  omne  quod  obstat,  30 

Ad  Maecenatem  memori  si  mente  recurras.' 
Hoc  iuvat  et  melli  est,  non  mentiar.     At  simul  atras 
Ventum  est  Esquilias,  aliena  negotia  centum 
Per  caput  et  circa  saliunt  latus.     '  Ante  secundam 
Roscius  orabat  sibi  adesses  ad  Puteal  eras.  35 

De  re  communi  scribae  magna  atque  nova  te 
Orabant  hodie  meminisses,  Quinte,  reverti. 


72  SERMONUM  [VI. 

Imprimat  his,  cura,  Maecenas  signa  tabellis.' 
Dixeris,  'Experiar7;  <Si  vis,  potes,7  addit  et  instat. 

Septimus  octavo  propior  iarn  fugerit  annus,     -  40 

Ex  quo  Maecenas  me  coepit  habere  suorum 
In  numero,  dumtaxat  ad  hoc,  quern  tollere  raeda 
Vellet  iter  faciens,  et  cui  concredere  nugas 
Hoc  genus  :  '  Hora  quota  est  ?    Thraex  est  Gallina  Syro  par  ? 
Matutina  parum  cautos  iam  f rigora  mordent ; '  45 

Et  quae  rimosa  bene  deponuntur  in  aure. 
Per  totum  hoc  tempus  subiectior  in  diem  et  horam 
Invidiae  noster.     Ludos  spectaverat  una, 
Luserat  in  campo ;     '  Fortunae  filius  ! '  omnes. 
Frigidus  a  rostris  manat  per  cornpita  rumor ;  50 

Quicumque  obvius  est,  me  consulit :  '  0  bone,  nam  te 
Scire,  deos  quoniam  propius  contingis,  oportet, 
Numquid  de  Dacis  audisti  ? 7     '  Nil  equidem.7     '  Ut  tu 
Semper  eris  derisor.7     '  At  omnes  di  exagitent  me, 
Si  quicquam.7     '  Quid  ?  militibus  promissa  Triquetra          55 
Praedia  Caesar  an  est  Itala  tellure  daturus  ? 7 
lurantem  me  scire  nihil  mirantur,  ut  unum 
Scilicet  egregii  mortalem  altique  silenti. 

Perditur  haec  inter  misero  lux  non  sine  votis^: 
0  rus,  quando  ego  te  aspiciam,  quandoque  licebit  GO 

Nunc  veterum  libris  nunc  somno  et  inertibus  horis 
Ducere  sollicitae  iucunda  oblivia  vitae  ?• 
0  quando  faba  Pythagorae  cognata  simulque 
•Uncta  satis  pingui  ponentur  holuscula  lardo  ? 
0  noctes  cenaeque  deum  !  quibus  ipse  meique  65 

Ante  Larem  proprium  vescor  vernasque  procacis. 
Pasco  libatis  dapibus.     Prout  cuique  libido  est, 
Siccat  inaequalis  calices  conviva  solutus 
Legibus  insams,  sen  quis  capit  acria  fortis 
Pocula  seu  modicis  uvescit  laetius.     Ergo  70 

Sermo  oritur,  non  de  villis  domibusve  alienis, 


VI.]  LIBER   II.  73 

Nec  male  necne  Lepos  saltet ;  sed  quod  magis  ad  nos 
Pertinet  et  nescire  .malum  est,  agitamus  :  utrumne 
Divitiis  homines  an  sint  virtute  beati ; 

Quidve  ad  amicitias,  usus  rectumne,  trahat  nos ;  75 

Et  quae  sit  natura  boni  summumque  quid  eius. 

Cervius  haec  inter  vicinus  garrit  anilis 
Ex  re  fabellas.     Si  quis  nam  laudat  Arelli 
Sollicitas  ignarus  opes,  sic  incipit:  '  Olim" 
Kusticus  urbanum  murem  mus  paupere  fertur  80 

AcApisse  cavo,  veterem  vetus  hospes  amicum, 
Asper  et  attentus  quaesitis,  ut  tamen  artum 
Solveret  hospitiis  animum.     Quidmulta?  neque  ille 
Sepositi  ciceris  nee  longae  invidit  avenae, 
Aridum  et  ore  ferens  acinum  semesaque  lardi  85 

Frusta  dedit,  cupiens  varia  fastidia  cena 
Vincere  tangentis  male  singula  dente  superbo ; 
Cum  pater  ipse  domus  palea  porrectus  in  horna 
Esset  ador  loliumque,  dapis  meliora  relinquens. 
Tandem  urbanus  ad  hunc  '  Quid  te  iuvat,'  inquit, '  amice,     90 
Praerupti  nemoris  patientem  vivere  dorso? 
Vis  tu  homines  urbemque  feris  praeponere  silvis? 
Carpe  viam,  mihi  crede,  comes ;  terrestria  quando 
Mortalis  animas  vivunt  sortita,  neque  ulla  est 
Aut  magno  aut  parvo  leti  fuga :  quo,  bone,  circa,  95 

Dum  licet,  in  rebus  iucundis  vive  beatus, 
Vive  memor,  quam  sis  aevi  brevis.'     Haec  ubi  dicta 
Agrestem  pepulere,  domo  levis  exsilit;  inde 
Ambo  propositum  peragunt  iter,  urbis  aventes 
Moenia  nocturni  subrepere. 

Tamque  tenebat  100 

Nox  medium  caeli  spatium,  cum  ponit  uterque  /"* 

In  locuplete  domo  vestigia,  rubro  ubi  cocco      •      ^ 
Tincta  super  lectos  canderet  vestis  eburnos, 
Multaque  de  magna  superessent  fercula  cena, 


74  SERMONUM  [VII. 

Quae  procul  exstructis  inerant  hesterna  canistris.  105 

Ergo  ubi  purpurea  porrectum  in  veste  locavit 
Agrestem,  veluti  succinctus  cursitat  hospes 
Continuatque  dapes,  nee  non  verniliter  ipsis 
Fungitur  officiis,  praelambens  omne  quod  adfert. 
Ille  Cubans  gaudet  mutata  sorte  bonisque  no 

Eebus  agit  laetum  convivam,  cum  subito  ingens 
Valvarum  strepitus  lectis  excussit  utrunique. 
Currere  per  totum  pavidi  conclave,  magisque 
Exanimes  trepidare,  simul  domus  alta  Molossis 
Personuit  canibus.     Turn  rusticus  '  Haud  mihi  vita  us 

Est  opus  hac,'  ait,  ( et  valeas ;  me  silva  cavusque 
Tutus  ab  insidiis  tenui  solabitur  ervo.' 

<< 

VII. 
A   SLAVE'S   LECTURE   ON   VIRTUE. 

1.   Outline  :  Horace's  slave  Davus  retails  the  views  of  Crispinus, 
the  Stoic. 

1.  Davus  obtains,  as  a  privilege  of  the  Saturnalia,  permission  to 

speak  his  mind,  1-5  ; 

2.  He  begins  by  general  remarks  on  the  inconsistency  of  man- 

kind, 6-20  ; 

3.  On  being  asked  to  explain  himself,  he  directly  accuses  his 

master : 
a)  Of  longing  for  Rome  when  he  is  in  the  country,  and  vice 

versa,  21-29  ; 
6)  Of  pretending  to  be  glad  when  he  is  not  invited  out,  and 

joyfully  accepting  a  summons  from   Maecenas    at  the 

eleventh  hour,  29-37  ; 

4.  He  proposes  to  prove  that  Horace  is  more  foolish  than  his 

slave,  and  is  in  fact  himself  a  slave,  by  the  arguments 

of  Crispinus,  37-45 : 
a)  A  man  who  is  again  and  again  led  into  danger  by  his 

amorous  passions  is  a  slave  to  them,  46-82  ; 
6)  Only  the  philosopher,  who  masters  himself,  is  truly  free, 

88-89.     Horace  is  not,  for  : 
1)  He  yields  to  his  passions,  89-94  j 


VII.]  LIBER   II.  75 

2)  He  moons  over  pictures,  like  a  slave  staring  at  the 

posters  of  a  gladiatorial  show,  95-101 ; 

3)  He  is  a  slave  to  his  appetite,  102-111 ; 

4)  And  after  all  he  cannot  live  contentedly  or  drive 

away  care,  111-115; 

5.   Horace  loses  his  temper  and  silences  his  tormentor  by  threat- 
ening to  send  him  to  work  on  the  farm,  116-118. 

2.   Time  :  31-30  B.C. 


Davus.   lamdudum  ausculto  et  cupiens  tibi  dicere  servus 
Pauca  reformido.     Hor.  Davusne  ?    D.  Ita,  Davus,  amicum 
Mancipium  domino  et  frugi  quod  sit  satis,  hoc  est, 
Ut  vitale  putes.     H.  Age,  libertate  Decembri, 
Quando  ita  inaiores  voluerunt,  utere ;  narra.  5 

D.   Pars  hominum  vitiis  gaudet  constanter  et  urget 
Propositum  ;  pars  multa  natat,  inodo  recta  capessens, 
Interduin  pravis  obnoxia.     Saepe  notatus 
Cum  tribus  anellis,  modo  laeva  Priscus  inani, 
Vixit  inaequalis,  clavum  ut  mutaret  in  horas,  10 

Aedibus  ex  magnis  subito  se  conderet,  unde 
Mundior  exiret  vix  libertinus  honeste ; 
lam  moechus  Komae,  iam  mallet  doctus  Athenis 
Vivere  Vertumnis,  quotquot  sunt,  natus  iniquis. 
Scurra  Volanerius,  postquam  illi  iusta  cheragra  15 

Contudit  articulos,  qui  pro  se  tolleret  atque 
Mitteret  in  phimurn  talos,  mercede  diurna 
Conductum  pavit ;  quanto  constantior  isdem 
In  vitiis,  tanto  levius  miser  ac  prior  ille, 
Qui  iam  contento,  iam  laxo  fune  laborat.  20 

H.   Non  dices  hodie  quorsum  haec  tarn  putida  tendant, 
Furcifer?      D.  Ad  te,  inquam.      H.   Quo  pacto,  pessime? 

D.   Laudas 

Fortunam  et  mores  antiquae  plebis,  et  idem, 
Si  quis  ad  ilia  deus  subito  te  agat,  usque  recuses, 
Aut  quia  non  sentis  quod  clamas  rectius  esse,  25 


76  SERMONUM  [VII. 

Aut  quia  non  firmus  rectum  defendis,  et  haeres 

Nequiquam  caeno  cupiens  evellere  plantain. 

Romae  rus  optas ;  absentem  rusticus  urbem 

Tollis  ad  astra  levis.     Si  nusquam  es  forte  vocatus 

Ad  cenam,  laudas  securum  holus  ac,  velut  usquam  30 

Vinctus  eas,  ita  te  felicem  dicis  amasque, 

Quod  nusquam  tibi  sit  potandum.     lusserit  ad  se 

Maecenas  serum  sub  lumina  prirna  venire 

Convivam :  '  Nemon  oleum  fert  ocius  ?  ecquis 

Audit  ? '  cum  magno  blateras  clamore  fugisque.  35 

Mulvius  et  scurrae,  tibi  non  referenda  precati, 

Discedunt.     '  Etenim  fateor  me  '  dixerit  ille, 

'  Duci  ventre  levem,  nasum  nidore  supinor, 

Imbecillus,  iners,  si  quid  vis,  adde,  popino. 

Tu  cum  sis  quod  ego  et  fortassis  nequior,  ultro  40 

Insectere  velut  melior,  verbisque  decoris 

Obvolvas  vitium  ? ?     Quid,  si  me  stultior  ipso 

Quingentis  empto  drachmis  deprenderis  ?     Aufer 

Me  voltu  terrere ;  manum  stomachumque  teneto, 

Dum  quae  Crispini  docuit  me  ianitor  edo.  45 

Te  coniunx  aliena  capit,  rneretricula  Davum  : 
Evasti ;  credo,  metues  doctusque  cavebis. 
Quaeres,  quando  iterum  paveas  iterumque  perire 
Possis,  o  totiens  servus  !     Quae  belua,  ruptis  70 

Cum  semel  effugit,  reddit  se  prava  catenis  ? 
1  Non  sum  moechus '  ais.     Neque  ego,  hercule,  fur,  ubi  vasa 
Praetereo  sapiens  argentea.     Tolle  periclum  j 
lam  vaga  prosiliet  frenis  natura  remotis. 
Tune  mini  dominus,  rerum  imperiis  hominumque  75 

Tot  tantisque  minor,  quern  ter  vindicta  quaterque 
Imposita  haud  umquam  misera  f ormidine  privet  ? 
Adde  super  dictis  quod  non  levius  valeat ;  nam 
Sive  vicarius  est,  qui  servo  paret,  uti  mos 
Vester  ait,  seu  conservus ;  tibi  quid  sum  ego  ?     Nempe      80 


VII.  ]  LIBER   II.  77 

Tu,  mihi  qui  imperitas,  alii  servis  miser  atque 
Duceris  ut  nervis  alienis  mobile  lignum. 

Quisnam  igitur  liber  ?     Sapiens,  sibi  qui  imperiosus,    t/ 
Quern  neque  pauperies  neque  mors  neque  vincula  terrent, 
Responsare  cupidinibus,  contemnere  honores  85 

Fortis,  et  in  se  ipso  totus  teres  atque  rotundus, 
Externi  ne  quid  valeat  per  leve  morari, 
In  quern  manca  ruit  semper  fortuna.     Potesne 
Ex  his  ut  proprium  quid  noscere  ?     Quinque  talenta 
Poscit  te  mulier,  vexat  foribusque  repulsum  90 

Perfundit  gelida,  rursus  vocat.     Eripe  turpi 
Colla  iugo,  '  Liber,  liber  sum/  die  age !     Non  quis ; 
Urget  enim  dominus  mentem  non  lenis  et  acris 
Subiectat  lasso  stimulos  versatque  negantem. 
Vel  cum  Pausiaca  torpes,  insane,  tabella,  95 

Qui  peccas  minus  atque  ego,  cum  Fulvi  Rutubaeque 
Aut  Pacideiani  contento  poplite  iniror 
Proelia  rubrica  picta  aut  carbone,  velut  si 
Re  vera  pugnent,  fe riant  vitentque  moventes 
Arma  viri  ?     Nequam  et  cessator  Davus ;  at  ipse  100 

Subtilis  veterum  iudex  et  callidus  audis. 

Nil  ego,  si  ducor  libo  f  umante :  tibi  ingens 
Virtus  atque  animus  cenis  responsat  opimis  ? 
Obsequium  ventris  mihi  perniciosius  est  cur  ? 
Tergo  plector  enim.  Qui  tu  impunitior  ilia,  105 

Quae  parvo  sumi  nequeunt,  obsonia  captas  ? 
Nempe  inamarescunt  epulae  sine  fine  petitae, 
Inlusique  pedes  vitiosum  ferre  recusant 
Corpus.     An  hie  peccat,  sub  noctem  qui  puer  uvam 
Furtiva  mutat  strigili ;  qui  praedia  vendit,  110 

Nil  servile  gulae  parens  habet  ?     Adde,  quod  idem 
Non  horam  tecum  esse  potes,  non  otia  recte 
Ponere,  teque  ipsum  vitas  fugitivus  et  erro, 
lam  vino  quaerens,  iam  somno  fallere  curam ; 


78  SERMONUM  [VIII. 

Frustra ;  nam  conies  atra  premit  sequiturque  f  ugacem.      115 
H.   Unde  mihi  lapidem  ?    D.  Quorsum  est  opus  ?    H.   Unde 

sagittas  ? 

D.   Aut  insanit  homo  aut  versus  facit.     H.   Ocius  hinc  te 
Ni  rapis,  accedes  opera  agro  nona  Sabino. 


VIII. 
A  COMICAL  DINNER   PARTY. 

1.  Outline :  Fundanius  tells  Horace  about  the  dinner  party  of  an 
ostentatious  millionnaire,  who  prided  himself  on  his  novelties  in  the 
gastronomic  art. 

1.  Horace  begs  for  an  account  of  the  affair,  1-5. 

2.  His  friend  describes  the  meal,  which  was  elaborate  and  costly, 

but  spoiled  by  the  tiresome  explanations  of  the  host  and 

his  friend  Nomentanus : 
a)  The  appetizers  (gustatio},  6-9  ; 
6)  The  wines.     The  host's  ostentatious  display,  10-17  ; 

c)  The  arrangement  of  the  guests  at  table  (see  2  below),  18-41  ; 

d)  The  mensa  prima.    Nomentanus  points  out  the  costly  fea- 

tures, 42-53  ; 

e)  An  untimely  accident,  which  reveals  the  host's  lack  of 

neatness  and  care.     He  loses  his  presence  of  mind,  but 
Nomentanus  comes  to  the  rescue,  54-78  ; 

/)  Balatro  and  Vibidius  divert  the  attention  of  the  guests,  and 
the  dinner  proceeds  with  many  luxuries,  the  enjoyment 
of  which  is  spoiled  by  the  host's  wearisome  talk,  79-95. 

2.  The  Arrangement  of  the  Guests :  In  accordance  with  the  usual 
arrangement,  couches  were  placed  on  three  sides  of  the  table,  and  the 
fourth  was  left  open  to  allow  access  to  the  servants.     The  couches  had 
arms  only  on  one  end,  at  a,  6,  and  c ;  in  the  other  places  the  guests 
rested  their  elbows  on  cushions.     The  places  on  each  couch  next  to  the 
arms  were  called  summus  locus  (1,  4,  7),  the  next  medius  locus  (2,  5, 
8),  and  the  next  imus  locus  (3,  6,  9). 

Maecenas,  the  guest  of  honor,  occupied  the  imus  locus  on  the  medius 
lectus,  and  the  other  two  places  on  that  couch  were  assigned  to  his 
umbrae,  Balatro  and  Vibidius,  who  distinguished  themselves  by  their 
bibulous  feats.  Fundanius,  Viscus,  and  Varius,  friends  of  Maecenas 
and  men  of  letters,  occupied  the  summus  lectus  in  the  order  named. 


VIII.] 


LIBER   II.  79 

'Medius  Lectus 

b 


MENSA 


The  usual  place  for  the  host  would  have  been  the  summits  locus  on 
the  imus  lectus,  next  to  Maecenas ;  but  he  had  placed  Nomentanus 
there  to  entertain  (?)  his  distinguished  guest,  and  himself  occupied 
the  medius  locus.  Beside  him  was  the  appropriately  named  buffoon, 
Porcius. 

3.    Time :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined. 


Hor.   Ut  Nasidieni  iuvit  te  cena  beati  ? 
Nam  mihi  quaerenti  convivam  dictus  here  illic 
De  medio  potare  die.     Fund.  Sic,  ut  mihi  numquam 
In  vita  fuerit  melius.     H.   Da,  si  grave  non  est, 
Quae  prima  iratum  ventrem  placaverit  esca.  5 

F.    In  primis  Lucanus  aper  leni  fuit  Austro 
Captus,  ut  aiebat  cenae  pater ;  acria  circum 
Rapula,  lactucae,  radices,  qualia  lassum 
Pervellunt  stomachum,  siser,  allec,  faecula  Coa. 

His  ubi  sublatis  puer  alte  cinctus  acernam  10 

Gausape  purpureo  mensam  pertersit,  et  alter 
Sublegit  quodcumque  iaceret  inutile  quodque 
Posset  cenantis  offendere ;  ut  Attica  virgo 
Cum  sacris  Cereris  procedit  fuscus  Hydaspes, 
Caecuba  vina  ferens,  Alcon  Chiuni  maris  expers.  15 


80  SERMONUM  [VIII. 

Hie  erus :  '  Albanum,  Maecenas,  sive  Falernum 

Te  magis  adpositis  delectat,  habemus  utruraque. 

H.   Divitias  miseras  !     Sed  quis  cenantibus  una. 

Fundani,  pulchre  fuerit  tibi,  nosse  laboro. 

F.    Surnmus  ego  et  prope  me  Viscus  Thurinus  et  infra,       20 

Si  meniini,  Varius,  cum  Servilio  Balatrone 

Vibidius,  quos  Maecenas  adduxerat  umbras. 

Nomentanus  erat  super  ipsum,  Porcius  infra, 

Ridiculus  totas  semel  absorbere  placentas. 

Nomentanus  ad  hoc,  qui,  si  quid  forte  lateret,  25 

Indice  monstraret  digito :  nam  cetera  turba, 

Nos,  inquam,  cenamus  avis,  conchylia,  piscis, 

Longe  dissimilem  noto  celantia  sucuni, 

Ut  vel  continuo  patuit,  cum  passeris  atque 

Ingustata  mihi  porrexerat  ilia  rhombi.  30 

Post  hoc  me  docuit  melimela  rubere  minorem 

Ad  lunam  delecta.     Quid  hoc  intersit,  ab  ipso 

Audieris  melius.     Turn  Vibidius  Balatroni : 

'  Kos  nisi  damnose  bibimus,  moriernur  inulti,' 

Et  calices  poscit  maiores.     Vertere  pallor  35 

Turn  parochi  facieni,  nil  sic  metuentis  ut  acris 

Potores,  vel  quod  maledicunt  liberius  vel 

Fervida  quod  subtile  exsurdant  vina  palatum. 

Invertunt  Allifanis  vinaria  tota 

Vibidius  Balatroque,  secutis  omnibus ;  imi  40 

Convivae  lecti  iiihilum  nocuere  lagoenis. 

Adfertur  squillas  inter  murena  natantis 
In  patina  porrecta.     Sub  hoc  erus,  '  Haec  gravida '  inquit 
'  Capta  est,  deterior  post  partum  carne  f  utura. 
His  mixtum  ius  est ;  oleo,  quod  prima  Venaf  ri  45 

Pressit  cella ;  garo  de  sucis  piscis  Hiberi ; 
Vino  quinquenni,  verum  citra  mare  nato, 
Dum  coquitur  —  eocto.Chium  sic  convenit,  ut  non 
Hoc  magis  ullum  aliud  —  pipere  albo,  non  sine  aceto, 


VIII.]  LIBER   II.  81 

Quod  Methynmaeam  vitio  inutaverit  uvam.  50 

Erucas  viridis,  inulas  ego  primus  amaras 
Moustravi  incoquere  ;  inlutos  Curtillus  echinos, 
Ut  inelius  muria,  quod  testa  marina  remittat.' 

Interea  suspensa  gravis  aulaea  ruinas 

In  patinam  fecere,  trahentia  pulveris  atri  55 

Quantum  non  Aquilo  Campanis  excitat  agris. 
Nos  maius  veriti,  postquam  nihil  esse  pericli 
Sensimus,  erigiinur.     Rufus  posito  capite,  ut  si 
Filius  imiuaturus  obisset,  Here.     Quis  esset 
Finis,  ni  sapiens  sic  Nomentanus  amicum  60 

Tolleret :  '  Heu,  Fortuna,  quis  est  crudelior  in  nos 
Te  deus  ?     Ut  semper  gaudes  inludere  rebus 
Hunianis  ! '     Varius  mappa  compescere  risum 
Yix  poterat.     Balatro  suspendens  omnia  iiaso, 
1  Haec  est  condicio  vivendi/  aiebat,  '  eoque  65 

Responsura  tuo  nurnquam  est  par  fama  labori. 
Tene,  ut  ego  accipiar  laute,  torquerier  omni 
Sollicitudine  districtum,  ne  panis  adustus, 
Ne  male  conditum  ius  adponatur,  ut  omnes 
Praecincti  recte  pueri  comptique  ministrent  ?  70 

Adde  hos  praeterea  casus,  aulaea  ruant  si, 
Ut  modo ;  si  patinam  pede  lapsus  frangat  agaso. 
Sed  convivatoris,  uti  ducis,  ingenium  res 
Adversae  nudare  solent,  celare  secundae.' 
Nasidienus  ad  haec :  '  Tibi  di,  quaecumque  preceris,  75 

Commoda  dent !  ita  vir  bonus  es  convivaque  comis J ; 
Et  soleas  poscit.     Turn  in  lecto  quoque  videres 
Stridere  secreta  divisos  aure  susurros. 

H.   Nullos  his  mallem  ludos  spectasse ;  sed  ilia 
Redde,  age,  quae  deinceps  risisti.     F.   Yibidius  dum  80 

Quaerit  de  pueris  num  sit  quoque  fracta  lagoena, 
Quod  sibi  poscenti  non  dantur  pocula,  dumque 
Ridetur  fictis  rerum  Balatrone  secundo, 


82  SEEMONUM   LIBER   II.  [VIII. 

Nasidiene,  redis  mutatae  front! s,  ut  arte 

Emendatums  fortunam;  deinde  secuti  85 

Mazonomo  pueri  magno  discerpta  ferentes 

Membra  gruis  spars!  sale  multo,  non  sine  farre, 

Pinguibus  et  ficis  pastum  iecur  anseris  albae, 

Et  leporum  avolsos,  ut  multo  suavius,  armos, 

Quam  si  cum  lumbis  quis  edit.     Turn  pectore  adusto  90 

Vidimus  et  merulas  poni  et  sine  clune  palumbes ; 

Suaves  res,  si  non  causas  narraret  earum  et 

Naturas  dominus,  quern  nos  sic  fugimus  ulti, 

Ut  nihil  omnino  gustaremus,  velut  illis 

Canidia  adflasset  peior  serpentibus  Afris.  95 


EPISTULARLJM 

LIBER  PRIMUS. 


I. 

ON  THE  IMPORTANCE   OF  PHILOSOPHY. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Poem  :  Maecenas  had  probably  urged  upon  Hor- 
ace the  publication  of  a  second  collection  of  lyrics  (line  5),  although  he 
may  have  called  for  an  epic  in  praise  of  Augustus  (c/.  Serm.  ii.  1.  10 
ft.).     In  dedicating  the  first  book  of  Epistles  to  his  patron,  Horace 
states  his  plans  for  the  future. 

2.  Outline  : 

1.  Horace  proposes  to  give  up  lyric  poetry,  in  which  line  he  thinks 

he  has  served  his  time,  and  to  devote  his  spare  moments 
to  philosophy,  1-12. 

2.  He  will  not  follow  any  particular  school.     He  regrets  that  he 

cannot  give  more  time  to  the  subject,  13-26. 

3.  However,  a  slight  knowledge  is  better  than  none,  and  serves 

to  alleviate  many  evils,  even  if  it  cannot  cure  them, 
27-40. 

4.  The  philosophers,  and  not  the  general  public,  are  the  safe  guides 

for  the  conduct  of  life  : 
a)  For  it  is  better  to  learn  not  to  desire  wealth  and  honors  than 

to  toil  to  gain  them,  41-51  ; 
6)  But  the  masses  care  for  nothing  but  money  and  the  position 

which  it  secures,  52-69  ; 

c)  Then,  too,  each  man  has  a  different  idea  of  happiness,  70-80 ; 

d)  And  even  the  same  individual  changes  his  opinion  from  hour 

to  hour,  80-93  ; 

e)  So  universal  is  this  mad  inconsistency  that  it  attracts  less 

attention  than  carelessness  in  dress  or  in  personal  neat- 
ness, 94-105. 

83 


84  EPISTULARUM  [I. 

5.    Horace  closes  with  a  parting  thrust  at  the  exaggerated  claims 
of  the  Stoics,  106-108. 

3.   Time  :  20  B.C. 

Prima  dicte  mihi,  summa  dicende  Camena, 
Spectatum  satis  et  donatum  iam  rude  quaeris, 
Maecenas,  iterum  antique  me  includere  ludo. 
Non  eadem  est  aetas,  non  mens.     Veianius,  armis 
Herculis  ad  postern  fixis,  latet  abditus  agro, 
Ne  populum  extrema  totiens  exoret  harena. 
Est  mihi  purgatam  erebro  qui  personet  aurem : 
'  Solve  senescentem  mature  sanus  equum,.  ne 
Peccet  ad  extremum  ridendus  et  ilia  ducat.' 
Nunc  itaque  et  versus  et  cetera  ludicra  pono ;  10 

Quid  verum  atque  decens  euro  et  rogo,  et  omnis  in  hoc  sum ; 
Condo  et  compono  quae  mox  depromere  possim. 

Ac  ne  forte  roges  quo  me  duce,  quo  Lare  tuter, 
Nullius  addictus  iurare  in  verba  magistri, 
Quo  me  cumque  rapit  tempestas,  deferor  hospes.  15 

Nunc  agilis  fio  et  mersor  civilibus  undis, 
Virtutis  verae  custos  rigidusque  satelles-; 
Nunc  in  Aristippi  furtim  praecepta  relabor, 
Et  mihi  res,  non  me  rebus,  subiungere  conor. 
Ut  nox  longa  quibus  mentitur  arnica,  diesque  20 

Longa  videtur  opus  debentibus,  ut  piger  annus 
Pupillis,  quos  dura  premit  custodia  matrum  ; 
Sic  mihi  tarda  fluunt  ingrataque  tempora,  quae  spem 
Consiliumque  morantur  agendi  naviter  id  quod 
Aeque  pauperibus  prodest,  locupletibus  aeque,  25 

Aeque  neglectum  pueris  senibusque  nocebit. 

Restat  ut  his  ego  me  ipse  regain  solerque  elementis. 
Non  possis  oculo  quantum  contendere  Lynceus ; 
Non  tamen  idcirco  contemnas  lippus  inungui : 
Nee,  quia  desperes  invicti  membra  Glyeonis,  30 

Nodosa  corpus  nolis  prohibere  cheragra.' 


I.]  LIBER    I.  85 

Est  quadam  prodire  terms,  si  non  datur  ultra. 

Fervet  avaritia  miseroque  cupidine  pectus ; 

Sunt  verba  et  voces  quibus  hunc  lenire  dolorem 

Possis  et  magnam  morbi  deponere  partem.  35 

Laudis  am  ore  tumes ;  sunt  certa  piacula  quae  te    • 

Ter  pure  lecto  poterunt  recreare  libello. 

Invidus,  iracundus,  iners,  vinosus,  araator, 

Nemo  adeo  ferus  est,  ut  non  mitescere  possit, 

Si  modo  culturae  patientem  commodet  aurem.  40 

Virtus  est  vitium  fugere  et  sapientia  prima 
Stultitia  caruisse.     Vides,  quae  maxima  credis 
Esse  mala,  exiguum  censum  turpemque  repulsam, 
Quanto  devites  animi  capitisque  labore ; 
Impiger  extremes  curris  mercator  ad  Indos,  45 

Per  mare  pauperiem  f ugiens,  per  saxa,  per  ignis ; 
Ne  cures  ea,  quae  stulte  miraris  et  optas, 
Discere  et  audire  et  meliori  credere  non  vis  ? 
Quis  circum  pagos  et  circum  compita  pugnax 
Magna  coronari  contemnat  Olympia,  cui  spes,  50 

Cui  sit  condicio  dulcis  sine  pulvere  palmae  ? 

Vilius  argentum  est  auro,  virtutibus  aurum. 
<  0  cives,  cives,  quaerenda  pecunia  primum  est ; 
Virtus  post  nummos ; '  haec  lanus  summus  ab  imo 
Prodocet,  haec  recinunt  iuvenes  dictata  senesque,  55 

Laevo  suspensi  loculos  tabulamque  lacerto. 
Est  animus  tibi,  sunt  mores,  est  lingua  fidesque, 
Sed  quadringentis  sex  septem  milia  desunt ; 
Plebs  eris.     At  pueri  ludentes  '  Rex  eris/  aiunt, 
1  Si  recte  facies.'     Hie  murus  aeneus  esto :  60 

Nil  conscire  sibi,  nulla  pallescere  culpa. 
Roscia,  die  sodes,  melior  lex  an  pue,rorum  est 
Nenia,  quae  regnum  recte  facientibus  offert, 
Et  maribus  Curiis  et  decantata  Camillis  ? 
Isne  tibi  melius  suadet,  qui  rein  facias,  rem,  65 


86  EPISTULARUM  [I. 

Si  possis,  recte,  si  non,  quocumque  modo  rem, 
Ut  propius  spectes  lacrimosa  poemata  Pupi ; 
An  qui  Fortunae  te  responsare  superbae 
Liberum  et  erectum  praesens  hortatur  et  aptat  ? 

Quod  si  me  populus  Rom  anus  forte  roget  cur  70 

Non  ut  porticibus  sic  iudiciis  fruar  isdem, 
Nee  sequar  aut  fugiam  quae  diligit  ipse  vel  odit, 
Oliin  quod  volpes  aegroto  cauta  leoni 
Respondit,  referam :  (  Quia  me  vestigia  terrent, 
Omnia  te  adversum  spectantia,  nulla  retrorsum.'  75 

Belua  multorum  es  capitum.     Nam  quid  sequar  aut  quern  ? 
Pars  hominum  gestit  conducere  publica ;  sunt  qui 
Crustis  et  pomis  viduas  venentur  avaras, 
Excipiantque  senes,  quos  in  vivaria  mittant ; 
Multis  occulto  crescit  res  faenore. 

Verum  80 

Esto  aliis  alios  rebus  studiisque  teneri ; 
Idem  eadem  possunt  horam  durare  probantes  ? 
1  Nullus  in  orbe  sinus  Bais  praelucet  amoenis ' 
Si  dixit  dives  :  lacus  et  mare  sentit  amorem 
Festinantis  eri ;  cui  si  vitiosa  libido  85 

Fecerit  auspiciurn,  l  Cras  f erramenta  Teanum 
Tolletis,  fabri.'     Lectus  genialis  in  aula  est ; 
Nil  ait  esse  prius,  melius  nil  caelibe  vita : 
Si  non  est,  iurat  bene  solis  esse  maritis. 
Quo  teneam  voltus  mutantem  Prb'tea  nodo  ?  90 

Quid  pauper  ?     Eide :  mutat  cenacula,  lectos, 
Balnea,  tonsores,  conducto  navigio  aeque 
Nauseat  ac  locuples,  quern  ducit  priva  triremis. 

Si  curatus  inaequali  tonsore  capillos 

Occurri,  rides,  si  forte  subucula  pexae  95 

Trita  subest  tunicae,  vel  si  toga  dissidet  impar, 
Bides ;  quid,  mea  cum  pugnat  sententia  secum, 
Quod  petiit  spernifc,  repetit  quod  nuper  omisit, 


II.]  LIBER   I.   '  87 

Aestuat  et  vitae  disconvenit  ordine  toto, 

Diruit,  aedificat,  rautat  quadrata  rotundis  ?  100 

Insanire  putas  sollemnia  me  neque  rides, 

Nee  medici  credis  nee  curatoris  egere 

A  praetore  dati,  rerum  tutela  mearum 

Cum  sis  et  prave  sectum  stomacheris  ob  unguem 

De  te  pendentis,  te  respicientis  amici  ?  105 

Ad  summam :  sapiens  uno  minor  est  love,  dives, 
Liber,  honoratus,  pulcher,  rex  denique  regum, 
Praecipue  sanus,  nisi  cum  pituita  molesta  est. 


II. 

HOMER   THE   TEACHER   OF   TRUE   PHILOSOPHY. 

ADDRESSED  TO  LOLLIUS  MAXIMUS. 

1.  Outline : 

1.  Horace  has  been  re-reading  Homer  and  believes  him  a  better 

guide  for  the  conduct  of  life  than  many  a  philosopher,  1-5  : 
a)  The  Iliad  serves  as  a  warning,  by  showing  the  folly  of  the 

conduct  of  Paris  and  the  chiefs  of  the  Greeks,  6-16  ; 
6)   The  Odyssey  sets  before  us  a  model,  by  showing  what  cour- 
age and  self-control  can  accomplish,  17-26  ; 
c)  The  majority  of  men  are  like  the  Suitors  and  the  Phaeacians, 
sunk  i«  sloth  and  caring  only  for  pleasure,  27-31. 

2.  The  lessons  that  we  should  learn  are  these  : 

a)  It  is  better  to  exert  oneself  to  live  aright  than  in  trying  to 
remedy  the  evil  results  of  negligence  and  sloth,  32-43  ; 

6)  Not  wealth,  but  a  contented  mind,  brings  true  happiness, 
44-54  ; 

c)  One  who  cannot  govern  himself  becomes  a  slave  to  his  pas- 
sions, 55-63. 

3.  One  can  learn  wisdom  only  when  young.    Now  is  the  time  for 

Lollius  to  begin,  64-71. 

2.  Time  :  About  22  B.C. 

Troiani  belli  scriptorem,  Maxime  Lolli, 
Dum  tu  declamas  Romae,  Praeneste  relegi, 
Qui  quid  sit  pulchruni,  quid  turpe,  quid  utile,  quid  non, 


88  EP1STULABUM  [II. 

Planius  ac  melius  Chrysippo  et  Crantore  dicit. 

Cur  ita  crediderim,  nisi  quid  te  distinct,  audi.  5 

Fabula,  qua  Paridis  propter  narratur  amorem 
Graecia  barbariae  lento  conlisa  duello, 
Stultorum  regum  et  populorum  continet  aestus. 
Antenor  censet  belli  praecidere  causam  : 
Quid  Paris  ?  ut  salvus  regnet  vivatque  beatus,  10 

Cogi  posse  negat.     Nestor  componere  litis 
Inter  Peliden  festinat  et  inter  Atriden. 
Hunc  amor,  ira  quidem  communiter  urit  utrumque. 
Quicquid  delirant  reges,  plectuntur  Achivi. 
Seditione,  dolis,  scelere  atque  libidine  et  ira  15 

Iliaeos  intra  muros  peccatur  et  extra. 

Rursus,  quid  virtus  et  quid  sapientia  possit, 
Utile  proposuit  nobis  exemplar  Ulixen, 
Qui  domitor  Troiae  multorum  providus  urbes 
Et  mores  hominum  inspexit,  latumque  per  aequor,  20 

Dum  sibi,  dum  sociis  redituin  parat,  aspera  multa 
Pertulit,  adveVsis  rerum  immersabilis  undis. 
Sirenum  voces  et  Circae  pocula  nosti ; 
Quae  si  cum  sociis  stultus  cupidusque  bibisset, 
Sub  domina  meretrice  fuisset  turpis  et  exeors,  25 

Vixisset  canis  immuudus  vel  arnica  lutp,sus. 

Nos  numerus  sumus  et  fruges  consumere  nati, 
Sponsi  Penelopae  nebulones  Alcinoique 
In  cute  curanda  plus  aequo  operata  iuventus, 
Cui  pulchrum  fuit  in  medios  dormire  dies  et  30 

Ad  strepitum  citharae  cessatum  ducere  curam. 

Ut  iugulent  hominem,  surgunt  de  riocte  latrones ; 
Ut  te  ipsum  serves,  non  expergisceris  ?     Atqui 
Si  noles  sanus,  curres  hydropicus  ;  et  ni 
Posces  ante  diem  librum  cum  lumine,  si  non  35 

Intendes  animum  studiis  et  rebus  honestis, 
Invidia  vel  amore  vigil  torquebere.     Nam  cur 


II.]  LIBER   I.  89 

Quae  laedunt  oculum  festinas  deinere ;  si  quid    » 

Est  animum,  differs  curandi  tempus  in  annum  ? 

Dimidium  facti  qui  coepit  habet ;  sapere  aude ;  40 

Incipe.     Qui  recte  vivendi  prorogat  horam, 

Rusticus  exspectat  dum  defluat  amnis ;  at  ille 

Labitur  et  labetur  in  omne  volubilis  aevum. 

Quaeritur  argentuni  puerisque  beata  creandis 
Uxor,  et  incultae  pacantur  vomere  silvae;  45 

Quod  satis  est  cui  contingit,  nihil  amplius  optet. 
Non.domus  et  fundus,  non  aeris  acervus  et  auri 
Aegroto  domini  deduxit  corpore  febris, 
Non  animo  curas  ;  valeat  possessor  oportet, 
Si  comportatis  rebus  bene  cogitat  uti.  50 

Qui  cupit  aut  metuit,  iuvat  ilium  sic  domus  et  res, 
Ut  lippum  pictae  tabulae,  fomenta  podagram, 
Auriculas  citharae  collecta  sorde  dolentis. 
Sincerum  est  nisi  vas,  quodcumque  infundis  acescit. 

Sperne  voluptates  ;  nocet  empta  dolore  voluptas.  55 

Semper  avarus  eget ;  certum  voto  pete  finem.  ^  a  k  Xttli 
Invidus  alterius  macrescit  rebus  opimis ; 
Invidia  Siculi  non  invenere  tyranni 
Maius  tormentum.     Qui  non  moderabitur  irae, 
Infectum  volet  esse,  dolor  quod  suaserit  et  mens,  60 

Durn  poenas  odio  per  vim  festinat  inulto. 
Ira  furor  brevis  est ;  animum  rege ;  qui  nisi  paret, 
Imperat :  hunc  frenis,  hunc  tu  compesce  catena. 

Fingit  equum  tenera  docilem  cervice  rnagister 
Ire  viam  qua  monstrat  eques ;  venaticus,  ex  quo  65 

Tempore  cervinam  pellern  latravit  in  aula, 
Militat  in  silvis  catulus.     Nunc  adbibe  puro 
Pectore  verba,  puer,  nunc  te  melioribus  offer. 
Quo  semel  est  imbuta  recens  servabit  odorem 
Testa  diu.     Quodsi  cessas  aut  strenuus  anteis,  70 

Nee  tardum  opperior  nee  praecedentibus  insto. 


90  EPISTULARUM  [III. 


III. 
A  LITERARY  STAFF. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  When  Augustus  made  his  journey  to 
the  East  in  21  B.C.,  he  went  by  way  of  Samos.     At  the  same  time  he 
sent  an  army  by  the  land  route  through  Macedonia  and  Thrace,  under 
the  command  of  Tiberius,  who  was  at  that  time  twenty-one  years  old. 
Tiberius,  who  was  himself  an  admirer  of  the  Hellenistic  Greek  poetry, 
had  surrounded  himself  with  a  staff  of  young  literary  men.    The  letter 
is  addressed  to  one  of  their  number,  Julius  Florus,  while  the  army  was 
on  the  march. 

2.  Outline  : 

1.  Horace  asks  where  the  army  is  at  present,  1-5  ; 

2.  He  inquires  what  literary  work  the  staff  is  engaged  in,  and  asks 

after  several  personal  friends,  6-20  ; 

3.  He  wishes  to  know  what  work  Florus  is  doing  and  whether  he 

has  become  reconciled  with  Munatius.     He  prays  for  their 
safe  return,  20-36. 

3.  Time :  The  autumn  of  21  B.C. 

lull  Flore,  quibus  terrarum  militet  oris 
Claudius  Augusti  privignus,  scire  laboro. 
Thracane  vos  Hebrusque  nivali  compede  vinctus, 
An  freta  vicinas  inter  currentia  turns, 
An  pingues  Asiae  campi  collesque  morantur  ?  5 

Quid  studiosa  cohors  operum  struit  ?     Hoc  quoque  euro. 
Quis  sibi  res  gestas  Augusti  scribere  sumit  ? 
Bella  quis  et  paces  longum  diffundit  in  aevum  ? 
Quid  Titius  Romana  brevi  venturus  in  ora  ? 
Pindarici  fontis  qui  non  expalluit  haustus,  10 

Fastidire  lacus  et  rivos  ausus  apertos. 
Ut  valet  ?     Ut  meminit  nostri  ?     Fidibusne  Latinis 
Thebanos  aptare  modos  studet  auspice  Musa, 
An  tragica  desaevit  et  ampullatur  in  arte  ? 
Quid  mihi  Celsus  agit?    Monitus  multumque  monendus,    15 
Privatas  ut  quaerat  opes  et  tangere  vitet 


IV.]  LIBER  I.  91 

Scripta  Palatinus  quaecumque  recepit  Apollo, 
Ne,  si  forte  suas  repetitum  venerit  olim 
Grex  avium  plumas,  moveat  cornicula  risum 
Furtivis  nudata  coloribus. 

Ipse  quid  audes  ?  20 

Quae  circumvolitas  agilis  thyma?     Non  tibi  parvum 
Ingenium,  non  incultum  est  et  turpiter  hirtum : 
Seu  linguam  causis  acuis  seu  civica  iura 
Respondere  paras  seu  condis  amabile  carmen, 
Prima  feres  hederae  victricis  praemia.     Quod  si  25 

Frigida  curarum  fomenta  relinquere  posses, 
Quo  te  caelestis  sapientia  duceret,  ires. 
Hoc  opus,  hoc  studium  parvi  properemus  et  ampli, 
Si  patriae  volumus,  si  nobis  vivere  cari. 
Debes  hoc  etiam  rescribere,  sit  tibi  curae,  30 

Quantae  conveniat,  Munatius  ;  an  male  sarta 
Gratia  nequiquarn  coit  et  rescinditur,  ac  vos 
Seu  calidus  sariguis  seu  rerum  inscitia  vexat 
Indomita  cervice  feros  ?     Ubicumque  locorum 
Vivitis,  indigni  fraternum  rumpere  foedus,  35 

Pascitur  in  vestrum  reditum  votiva  iuvenca. 


IV. 
AN  EXHORTATION  TO   CONTENTMENT. 

ADDRESSED  TO  ALBIUS  TIBULLUS. 

1.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  inquires  how  Tibullus  is  spending  his  time  in  the 

country,  1-5; 

2.  He  reminds  his  friend,  who  he  had  heard  is  suffering  from 

melancholy,  of  the  blessings  which  the  gods  have  show- 
ered upon  him,  6-1 1  • 

3.  And  urges  him  to  enjoy  each  passing  hour.     He  suggests  that 

a  visit  to  the  Sabine  Farm  may  divert  him,  12-16. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined.     Not  after  20  B.C. 


92  EPISTULARUM    *  [V. 

Albi,  nostrorum  sermonum  candide  index, 

Quid  nunc  te  dicam  f acere  in  regione  Pedana  ? 

Scribere  quod  Cassi  Parinensis  opuscula  vincat, 

An  taciturn  silvas  inter  reptare  salubris, 

Curantem  quicquid  dignum  sapiente  bonoque  est  ?  5 

Non  tu  corpus  eras  Tsine  pectore.     Di  tibi  formam, 
Di  tibi  divitias  dederunt  artemque  fruendi. 
Quid  voveat  dulci  nutricula  maius  alumno, 
Qui  sapere  et  fari  possit  quae  sentiat,  et  cui 
Gratia,  fama,  valetudo  contingat  abunde,  10 

Et  mundus  victus  non  deficiente  crumena  ? 

Inter  spem  curamque,  timores  inter  et  iras 
Onmem  crede  diem  tibi  diluxisse  supremum ; 
Grata  superveniet,  quae  non  sperabitur  hora. 
Me  pinguem  et  nitidum  bene  curata  cute  vises,  15 

Cum  ridere  voles  Epicuri  de  grege  porcum. 

V. 

AN  INVITATION. 

ADDRESSED  TO  MANLIUS  TORQUATUS. 

1.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  invites  Torquatus  to  spend  the  emperor's  birthday  with 

him  in  Rome,  and  to  celebrate  the  event  by  a  simple 
dinner,  1-11 ; 

2.  One  should  enjoy  life  and  drive  away  care.     The  beneficent 

effects  of  wine,  12-20  ; 

3.  He  promises  neat  and  suitable  accessories,  and  opportunities 

for  confidential  talk.     He  asks  Torquatus  to  help  select 
the  guests,  21-31. 

2.  Time:  Sept.  23,  B.C.  21  or  20. 

Si  potes  Archiacis  conviva  recumbere  lectis 
Nee  modica  cenare  times  holus  omne  patella, 
Supremo  te  sole  dorni,  Torquate,  manebo. 


V.]  LIBER   I.  93 

Vina  bibes  iterura  Tauro  diffusa  palustris 

Inter  Minturnas  Sinuessanumque  Petrinum.  5 

Si  nielius  quid  habes,  arcesse  vel  iniperium  fer. 

lamdudum  splendet  focus  et  tibi  munda  supellex. 

Mitte  levis  spes  et  certamina  divitiarum 

Et  Moschi  causam :  eras  nato  Caesare  festus 

Dat  veniam  somnumque  dies ;  impune  licebit  10 

Aestivarn  sermone  benigno  tendere  nocteni. 

Quo  mihi  f  ortunam,  si  non  conceditur  uti  ? 
Parcus  ob  heredis  curam  nimiunique  severus 
Adsidet  insano :  potare  et  spargere  flores 
Incipiam  patiarque  vel  inconsultus  haberi.  15 

Quid  non  ebrietas  dissignat  ?     Operta  recludit, 
Spes  iubet  esse  ratas,  ad  proelia  trudit  iiiertem, 
Sollicitis  animis  onus  exiinit,  addocet  artis. 
Fecundi  calices  quern  non  fecere  disertum, 
Contracta  quern  non  in  paupertate  solutum  ?  20 

Haec  ego  procurare  et  idoneus  imperor  et  non 
Invitus,  ne  turpe  toral,  ne  sordida  mappa 
Conruget  naris,  ne  non  et  cantharus  et  lanx 
Ostendat  tibi  te,  ne  fidos  inter  amicos 

Sit  qui  dicta  foras  eliminet,  ut  coeat  par  25 

Iimgaturque  pari.     Butrani  tibi  Septic iumque 
Et  nisi  cena  prior  potiorque  puella  Sabinum 
Detinet  adsumam.     Locus  est  et  pluribus  umbris, 
Sed  nimis  arta  premunt  olidae  convivia  caprae. 
Tu  quotus  esse  velis  rescribe  et  rebus  oniissis  30 

Atria  servantem  postico  falle  clientem. 


94  EPISTULARUM  [VI. 


VI. 

ON  PHILOSOPHIC  INDIFFERENCE. 

ADDRESSED  TO  NDMICIUS. 

1.  Outline: 

1.  The  only  way  to  be  happy  is  to  cultivate  a  spirit  of  indifference 

to  the  possession  or  the  loss  of  material  blessings.      Even 
the  pursuit  of  virtue  may  be  carried  to  excess,  1-16  ; 

2.  It  is  folly  to  strive  for  wealth  and  position,  which  cannot  affect 

one's  ultimate  destiny,  17-27  ; 

3.  One  must  either  cultivate  indifference  or  spend  one's  life  in  a 

constant  struggle : 
a)  By  sacrificing  everything  to  the  pursuit  of  virtue,  with  a 

selfish  purpose,  28-31  ; 
6)  Or  to  acquiring  wealth,  in  the  belief  that  it  confers  all  the 

blessings  of  life,  31-48  ; 

c)  Or  to  winning  the  favor  of  the  people  and  political  prefer- 

ment, 49-55  ; 

d)  To  luxurious  living,  56-64  ; 

e)  Or  to  love  and  pleasure,  65-66  ; 

4.  Since  it  is  well  known  that  such  pursuits  cannot  confer  happi- 

ness, Numicius  should  follow  Horace's  precept,  unless  he 
can  suggest  a  better  one,  67-68. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined  ;  between  25  (line 
26)  and  20  B.C. 

Nil  admirari  prope  res  est  una,  Numici, 
Solaque  quae  possit  facere  et  servare  beatura. 
Hunc  solem  et  stellas  et  decedentia  certis 
Tempora  momentis  sunt  qui  formidine  nulla 
Imbuti  spectent :  quid  censes  munera  terrae,  5 

Quid  maris  extremes  Arabas  ditantis  et  Indos, 
Ludicra  quid  plausus  et  amici  dona  Quiritis, 
Quo  spectanda  modo,  quo  sensu  credis  et  ore  ? 
Qui  timet  his  adversa,  fere  miratur  eodem 
Quo  cupiens  pacto ;  pavor  est  utrobique  molestus,        10 
Iniprovisa  simul  species  exterret  utruinque. 
Gaudeat  an  doleat,  cupiat  metuatne,  quid  ad  rem, 


VI.]  LIBER    I.  95 

Si,  quicquid  vidit  melius  peiusve  sua  spe, 

Defixis  oculis  animoque  et  corpore  torpet  ? 

Insani  sapiens  nomen  fer.at,  aequus  iniqui,  15 

Ultra  quam  satis  est  virtutem  si  petat  ipsam. 

I  nunc,  argentum  et  marmor  vetus  aeraque  et  artis 
Suspice,  cum  gemmis  Tyrios  mirare  colores ; 
Gaude  quod  spectant  oculi  te  mille  loquentem ; 
Navus  mane  forum  et  vespertinus  pete  tectum,  20 

Ne  plus  frumenti  dotalibus  emetat  agris 
Mutus  et  —  indignum,  quod  sit  ^peioribus  ortus  — 
Hie  tibi  sit  potius  quam  tu  mirabilis  illi. 
Quicquid  sub  terra  est,  in  apricum  proferet  aetas ; 
Defodiet  condetque  nitentia.     Cum  bene  notum  25 

Porticus  Agrippae  et  via  te  conspexerit  Appi, 
Ire  tamen  restat  Numa  quo  devenit  et  Ancus. 

Si  latus  aut  renes  morbo  temptantur  acuto, 
Quaere  fugam  morbi.     Vis  recte  vivere ;  — quis  non  ?  — 
Si  virtus  hoc  una  potest  dare,  fortis  omissis  30 

Hoc  age  deliciis. 

Virtutem  verba  putas  et 
Lucum  ligna ;  cave  ne  portus  occupet  alter, 
Ne  Cibyratica,  ne  Bithyna  negotia  perdas ; 
Mille  talenta  rotundentur,  totidem  altera,  porro  et 
Tertia  succedant,  et  quae  pars  quadret  acervum.  35 

Scilicet  uxorem  cum  dote  fidemque  et  amicos 
Et  genus  et  formam  regina  Pecunia  donat, 
Ac  bene  nummatum  decorat  Suadela  Venusque. 
Mancupiis  locuples  eget  aeris  Cappadocum  rex ; 
Ne  fueris  hie  tu.     Chlamydes  Lucullus,  ut  aiunt,  40 

Si  posset  centum  scaenae  praebere  rogatus, 
'  Qui  possum  tot  ? '  ait ;  '  tamen  et  quaeram,  et  quot  habebo 
Mittam.'     Post  paulo  scribit,  sibi  milia  quinque 
Esse  domi  chlamydum ;  partem  vel  tolleret  omnis. 
Exilis  domus  est,  ubi  non  et  niulta  supersunt  45 


96  EPISTULAHUM  [VII. 

Et  dominion  fallunt  et  prosunt  furibus.     Ergo 

Si  res  sola  potest  facere  et  servare  beatum, 

Hoc  primus  repetas  opus,  hoc  postremus  omittas. 

Si  fortunatum  species  et  gratia  praestat, 
Mercemur  servuin,  qui  dictet  nomina,  laevum  50 

Qui  fodicet  latus  et  cogat  trans  pondera  dextram 
Porrigere:     'Hie  multum  in  Fabia  valet,  ille  Velina; 
Cui  libet  hie  fascis  dabit,  eripietque  curule 
Cui  volet  importunus  ebur.'     '  Frater '  *  pater '  adde ; 
Ut  cuique  est  aetas,  ita  quemque  facetus  adopta.  55 

Si  bene  qui  cenat  bene  vivit,  lucet,  eamus 
Quo  ducit  gula ;  piscemur,  venemur,  ut  olim 
Gargilius,  qui  mane  plagas,  venabula,  servos, 
Differtum  transire  forum  populumque  iubebat, 
Unus  ut  e  rnultis  populo  spectante  referret  60 

Emptum  mulus  aprum.     Crudi  tumidique  lavemur, 
Quid  deceat,  quid  non,  obliti,  Caerite  cera 
Digni,  remigium  vitiosum  Ithacensis  Ulixi, 
Cui  potior  patria  fuit  interdicta  voluptas. 

Si,  Minmermus  uti  censet,  sine  amore  iocisque  65 

Nil  est  iucundum,  vivas  in  amore  iocisque. 

Yive,  vale.     Si  quid  novisti  rectius  istis, 
Candidus  imperti ;  si  nil,  his  utere  mecum. 


VII. 

AN  INDEPENDENT  SPIRIT. 
ADDRESSED  TO  MAECENAS. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle :  Horace  had  left  Rome  in  the  month  of 
August  and  gone  to  his  Sabine  Farm  on  account  of  his  health.  Mae- 
cenas had  evidently  taken  him  to  task  for  remaining  longer  than  he 
had  promised,  and  had  perhaps  hinted  at  Horace's  obligations  to  him. 
The  frank  independence  of  the  poet's  reply  is  creditable  alike  to  him- 
self and  to  his  patron. 


VII.]  LIBER  I.  97 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  explains  his  reasons  for  prolonging  his  absence  from 

Rome.  He  announces  his  intention  of  spending  the  winter 
by  the  sea,  and  of  remaining  away  from  the  city  until 
springtime,  1-13  ; 

2.  He  is  duly  grateful  for  his  patron's  favors  and  for  the  spirit  in 

which  they  are  conferred ;  but  he  must  consider  his 
health  and  his  time  of  life,  14-28 ; 

3.  He  would  rather  give  up  all  that  he  has  received  than  sacrifice 

his  personal  independence,  29-39  ; 

4.  One  should  lead  the  life  for  which  nature  has  designed  him. 

Horace  finds  Tibur  and  Tarentum  more  congenial  than 
the  capital,  40-45  ; 

5.  He  illustrates  his  meaning  by  the  story  of  Volteius  Mena : 

a)  The  humble  but  contented  auctioneer  attracts  the  attention 

of  Philippus,  46-59 ; 
6)  The  latter  invites  him  to  dinner,  and  then  takes  him  to  his 

estate  in  the  country,  60-76; 

c)  Volteius  becomes  enamored  of  the  country,  and  his  patron 

helps  him  to  buy  a  farm,  77-82  ; 

d)  But  the  denizen  of  the  city  does  not  make  a  success  of  his 

new  life,  and  begs  Philippus  to  restore  him  to  his  former 
condition,  82-98. 

3.  Time  :  The  summer  of  21  B.C. 


Quinque  dies  tibi  pollicitus  me  rure  futurum, 
Sextilem  totum  mendax  desideror.     Atqui 
Si  me  vivere  vis  sanum  recteque  valentem, 
Quarn  mihi  das  aegro,  dabis  aegrotare  timenti, 
Maecenas,  veniam,  dum  ficus  prima  calorque  5 

Dissignatorem  decorat  lictoribus  atris, 
Dum  pueris  omnis  pater  et  matercula  pallet, 
Officiosaque  sedrulitas  et.  opella  f orensis   • 
Adducit  febris  et  testamenta  resignat. 

Quod  si  brurna  nives  Albanis  inlinet  agris,  ,     10 

Ad  mare  descendet  vates  tuns  et  sibi  parcet 
Contractusque  leget ;  te,  dulcis  amice,  reviset 
Cum  Zephyris,  si  concedes,  et  hirundine  prima. 


98  EPISTULARUM  [VII. 

Non  quo  more  piris  vesci  Calaber  iubet  hospes 
Tu  me  fecisti  locupletem.     '  Vescere,  sodes.'  15 

'  lam  satis  est.?     '  At  tu  quantum  vis  tolle.'     '  Benigne.' 
<Non  invisa  feres  pueris  munuscula  parvis.' 
*  Tarn  teneor  dono,  quam  si  dimittar  onustus.' 
'  Ut  libet ;  haec  porcis  hodie  comedenda  relinques.' 
Prodigus  et  stultus  donat  quae  spernit  et  odit ;  20 

Haec  seges  ingratos  tulit  et  feret  omnibus  annis. 
Vir  bonus  et  sapiens  dignis  ait  esse  paratus, 
Nee  tamen  ignorat  quid  distent  aera  lupinis. 
Dignum  praestabo  me  etiam  pro  laude  merentis. 
Quod  si  me  noles  usquam  discedere,  reddes  25 

Forte  latus,  nigros  angusta  fronte  capillos, 
Reddes  dulce  loqui,  reddes  ridere  decorum  et 
Inter  vina  fugam  Cinarae  maerere  protervae. 

Forte  per  angustam  tennis  volpecula  rimam 
Kepserat  in  cumeram  frumenti,  pastaque  rursus  30 

Ire  foras  pleno  tendebat  corpore  frustra. 
Cui  mustela  procul  '  Si  vis/  ait,  ( effugere  istinc, 
Macra  cavum  repetes  artum,  quem  rnacra  subisti/ 
Hac  ego  si  compellor  imagine,  cuncta  resigno ; 
Nee  somnum  plebis  laudo  satur  altilium  nee  35 

Otia  divitiis  Arabum  liberrima  muto. 
Saepe  verecundum  laudasti,  rexque  paterque 
Audisti  coram,  nee  verbo  parcius  absens ; 
Inspice  si  possum  donata  reponere  laetus. 

Hand  male  Telemachus,  proles  patientis  Ulixi :  40 

i  Non  est  aptus  equis  Ithace  locus,  ut  neque  planis 
Porrectus  spatiis  nee  multae  prodigus  herbae ; 
Atride,  magis  apta  tibi  tua  dona  relinquam.' 
Parvum  parva  decent ;  mihi  iam  non  regia  Roma, 
Sed  vacuum  Tibur  placet  aut  imbelle  'Tarentum.  45 

Strenuus  et  fortis  causisque  Philippus  agendis 
Clarus,  ab  officiis  octavam  circiter  horam 


VII.  ]  LIBER   I.  99 

Dum  redit  atque  Foro  nimium  distare  Carinas 

Iain  grandis  natu  queritur,  conspexit,  ut  aiunt, 

Adrasum  quendam  vacua  tonsoris  in  umbra  50 

Cultello  proprios  purgantem  leniter  unguis. 

'  Demetri/  —  puer  hie  non  laeve  iussa  Philippi 

Accipiebat  — '  abi,  quaere  et  refer,  unde  doino,  quis, 

Cuius  fortunae,  quo  sit  patre  quove  patrono.' 

It,  redit  et  narrat,  Volteium  nomine  Menani,  55 

Praeconem,  tenui  censup si ne  crimine,  notum 

Et  properare  loco  et  cessare  et  quaerere  et  uti, 

Gaudentem  parvisque  sodalibus  et  lare  certo 

Et  ludis  et  post  decisa  negotia  Campo. 

'  Scitari  libet  ex  ipso  quodcumque  refers  ;  die,  60 

Ad  cenam  veniat.'     Non  sane  credere  Mena, 
Mirari  secuni  tacitus.     Quid  multa  ?     '  Benigne ? 
Respondet.     *  Neget  ille  mihi  ? 7     '  Negat  irnprobus.  et  te 
Neglegit  aut  horret.'     Volteium  mane  Philippus 
Vilia  vendentem  tunicato  scruta  popello  65 

Occupat  et  salvere  iubet  prior ;  ille  Philippo 
Excusare  laborem  et  mercennaria  vincla, 
•Quod  non  mane  domum  venisset,  denique  quod  non 
Providisset  eum.     '  Sic  ignovisse  putato 
Me  tibi,  si  cenas  hodie  mecum.'     'Ut  libet.'     'Ergo  70 

Post  nonam  venies ;  mine  i,  rem  strenuus  auge.' 
Ut  ventum  ad  cenarn  est,  dicenda  tacenda  locutus 
Tandem  dormitum  dimittitur.     Hie  ubi  saepe 
Occultum  visus  decurrere  piscis  ad  hamum, 
Mane  cliens  et  iam  certus  conviva,  iubetur  75 

Rura  suburbana  indictis  comes  ire  Latinis. 

Impositus  mannis  arvum  caelumque  Sabinum 
Non  cessat  laudare.     Videt  ridetque  Philippus, 
Et  sibi  dum  requiem,  dum  risus  undique  quaerit, 
Dum  septem  donat  sestertia,  mutua  septem  80 

Promittit,  persuadet  uti  rnercetur  agellum. 


100  EPISTULARUM  [VIII. 

Mercatur. 

Ne  te  longis  ambagibus  ultra 

Quam  satis  est  morer,  ex  nitido  fit  rusticus  atque 

Sulcos  et  vineta  crepat  mera,  praeparat  ulmos, 

Immoritur  studiis  et  amore  senescit  habendi.  85 

Verum  ubi  oves  furto,  morbo  periere  capellae, 

Spem  inentita  seges,  bos  est  enectus  arando ; 

Offensus  damnis  media  de  nocte  caballum 

Arripit  iratusque  Philippi  tendit  ad  aedis. 

Quein  simul  aspexit  scabrum  intonsumque  Philippus,          90 
/'Durus,'  ait,  'Voltei,  nimis  attentusque  videris 
\Esse  mihi.'     '  Pol,  me  miserum,  patrone,  vocares, 

Si  velles'  inquit  '  verum  mihi  ponere  nomen. 

Quod  te  per  Genium  dextramque  deosque  Penatis 

Obsecro  et  obtestor,  vitae  me  redde  priori ! '  95 

Qui  semel  aspexit  quantum  dimissa  petitis 

Praestent,  mature  redeat  repetatque  relicta. 

Metiri  se  quemque  suo  modulo  ac  pede  verum  est. 

VIII. 

A  WORD  OF  WARNING. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle :  Albinovanus  Celsus  was  a  member  of 
the  staff  of  Tiberius  referred  to  in  i.  3.      He  had  so  far  won  the 
approval  of  his  commander  as  to  be  made  his  private  secretary. 
Horace  warns  his  young  friend  not  to  be  too  much  elated  by  his  good 
fortune.     The  thought  is  the  same  as  in  Odes,  ii.  3.  2-4. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  addresses  his  muse,  and  bids  her  report  him  as  out  of 

health,  out  of  temper,  and  dissatisfied  with  himself,  1-12  ; 

2.  And  to  warn  Celsus  against  undue  elation,  13-17. 

3.  Time :  The  autumn  of  21  B.C. 

Celso  gaudere  et  bene  rem  gerere  Albinovano 
Musa  rogata  refer,  comiti  scribaeque  Neronis. 


IX.]  LIBER   I.  101 

Si  quaeret  quid  again,  die  multa  et  pulchra  minantem 

Vivere  nee  recte  nee  suaviter ;  hand  quia  grando 

Contuderit  vitis  oleamque  momorderit  aestus,  5 

Nee  quia  longinquis  armentum  aegrotet  in  agris ; 

Sed  quia  mente  minus  validus  quam  corpore  toto 

Nil  audire  velim,  nil  discere,  quod  levet  aegruin ; 

Fidis  offendar  medicis,  irascar  amicis, 

Cur  me  funesto  properent  arcere  veterno ;  10 

Quae  nocuere  sequar,  fugiain  quae  profore  credam; 

Romae  Tibur  amem  ventosus,  Tibure  Romam. 

Post  haec,  ut  valeat,  quo  pacto  rein  gerat  et  se, 
Ut  placeat  iuveni  percontare,  utque  cohorti. 
Si  dicet  '  Recte/  primum  gaudere,  subinde  15 

Traeceptum  auriculis  hoc  instillare  memento : 
c  Ut  tu  fortunam,  sic  nos  te,  Celse,  feremus.' 


IX. 

A  LETTER  OF  RECOMMENDATION. 
ADDRESSED  TO  TIBERIUS. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle:    Septimius,  to  whom  Odes,  ii.  6    is 
addressed,  had  asked  Horace  to  recommend  him  for  a  position  on  the 
staff  of  Tiberius.     The  fact  that  the  letter  was  published  indicates  that 
the  recommendation  was  successful. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  tells  Tiberius  how  reluctantly  he  granted  his  friend's 

request,  1-9  ; 

2.  He  recommends  Septimius  in  a  few  words,  10-13. 

3.  Time  :  B.C.  21. 

Septimius,  Claudi,  nimirum  intel legit  unus, 
Quanti  me  facias ;  nam  cum  rogat  et  prece  cogit, 
Scilicet  ut  tibi  se  laudare  et  tradere  coner, 
Dignum  mente  domoque  legentis  honesta  Neronis, 


102  EPISTULARUM  [X. 

Munere  cum  fungi  propioris  censet  amici,  5 

Quid  possim  videt  ac  novit  me  valdius  ij.so. 
Multa  quidem  dixi,  cur  excusatus  abirem ; 
Sed  timui  mea  ne  finxisse  minora  putarer, 
Dissimulator  opis  propriae,  mihi  commodus  uni. 

Sic  ego,  maioris  fugiens  opprobria  culpae,  10 

Frontis  ad  urbanae  descendi  praemia.     Quod  si 
Depositum  laudas  ob  amici  iussa  pudorem, 
Scribe  tui  gregis  hunc,  et  fortem  crede  bonuinque. 

X. 

THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  COUNTRY  LIFE. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  Not  only  had  Maecenas  missed  Horace 
during  his  sojourn  in  the  country,  but  his  friend  Aristius  Fuscus  (see 
Serm.  i.  9.  59  ff.)  had  evidently  urged  him  to  return  to  Rome,  pointing 
out  the  attractions  of  city  life. 

2.  Outline:   :  «J  2 

'  1.  Horace  agrees  with  his  friend  on  every  subject  except  that  of 
th3  relative  attractions  of  the  city  and  of  the  country, 
1-11; 

2.  He  prefers  the  country : 

a)  Because  there  one  can  live  a  natural  life,  12-25  ; 
6)   While  the  city  creates  artificial  tastes,  which  make  men 
slaves  to  money-making,  26-41 ; 

3.  But  every  one  should  be  at  liberty  to  follow  his  own  inclinations. 

Horace  is  perfectly  contented  except  for  the  absence  of 
his  friend  Fuscus,  42-50. 

3.  Time:  Apparently  the  same  year  as  i.  7  ;  i.e.  21  B.C. 

Urbis  amatorem  Fuscum  salvere  iubemus 
E/uris  amatores ;  hac  in  re  scilicet  una 
Multum  dissimiles,  at  cetera  paene  gemelli 
Fraternis  animis — quidquid  negat  alter,  et  alter  — 
Adnuimus  pariter,  vetuli  notique  colurnbi. 
Tu  nidum  servas,  ego  laudo  ruris  amoeni 
Kivos  et  musco  circumlita  saxa  nemusque. 


X.]  LIBER   I.  103 

Quid  quaeris  ?     Vivo  et  regno,  simul  ista  jeliqui 

Quae  vos  ad  caelum  effertis  rumore  secundo, 

Utque  sacerdotis  fugitivus  liba  recuso ;  10 

Pane  egeo  iani  mellitis  potiore  placentis. 

Vivere  naturae  si  convenienter  oportet, 
Ponendaeque  domo  quaerenda  est  area  primum, 
Novistine  locum  potiorem  rure  beato  ? 

Est  ubi  plus  tepeant  hiemes,  ubi  gratior  aura  15 

Leniat  et  rabiem  Canis  et  momenta  Leonis, 
Cum  seniel  accepit  Solem  furibundus  acutum  ? 
Est  ubi  divellat  somnos  minus  invida  cura  ? 
Deterius  Libycis  olet  aut  nitet  herba  lapillis  ? 
Purior  in  vicis  aqua  tendit  rumpere  plumbum,  20 

Quam  quae  per  pronum  trepidat  cum  murmure  rivum  ? 
Nempe  inter  varias  nutritur  silva  columnas, 
Laudaturque  domus  longos  quae  prospicit  agros. 
Naturam  expelles  furca,  tamen  usque  recurret, 
Et  mala  perrumpet  furtim  fastidia  victrix.  25 

Non  qui  Sidonio  contendere  callidus  ostro 
Nescis  Aquinatem  potantia  vellera  fucum 
Certius  accipiet  damnum  propiusve  medullis, 
Quam  qui  non  poterit  vero  distinguere  falsum. 
Quern  res  plus  ninaio  delectavere  secimdae,  30 

Mutatae  quatient.     Si  quid  mirabere,  pones 
Invitus.     Fuge  magna ;  licet  sub  paupere  tecto 
Reges  et  regum  vita  praecurrere  aniicos. 
Cervus  equum  pugna  melior  corninunibiis  herbis 
Pellebat,  donee  minor  in  certaniine  longo  35 

Imploravit  opes  hominis  frenumque  recepit. 
Sed  postquam  victor  violens  discessit  ab  hoste, 
Non  equitem  dorso,  non  frenum  depulit  ore. 
Sic  qui  pauperiem  veritus  potiore  metallis 
Libertate  caret,  dominum  vehet  improbus  atque  40 

Serviet  aeternum,  quia  parvo  nesciet  uti. 


104  EPISTULARUM  [XL 

Cui  non  conveniet  sua  res,  ut  calceus  olim, 
Si  pede  maior  erit,  subvertet,  si  minor,  uret. 
Laetus  sorte  tua  vives  sapienter,  Aristi, 
Nee  me  dimittes  incastigatum,  ubi  plura  45 

Cogere  quam  satis  est  ac  non  cessare  videbor.    ' 
Imperat  aut  servit  collecta  pecunia  cuique, 
Tortum  digna  sequi  potius  quam  ducere  funem. 

Haec  tibi  dictabam  post  fanum  putre  Vacunae, 
Excepto  quod  non  simul  esses,  cetera  laetus.  50 

XI. 

ON  CONTENTMENT. 

ADDRESSED  TO  BULLATIUS. 

1.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  asks  for  his  friend's  impression  of  the  places  he  has 

visited,  1-10  ; 

2.  He  reminds  him  that  happiness  does  not  depend  on  one's  place 

of  abode,  but  on  oneself,  11-21 ; 

3.  The  wise  course  is  to  enjoy  each  hour  as  it  passes.    Content- 

ment with  one's  lot  will  bring  happiness  amid  the  most 
unattractive  surroundings,  22-30. 
With  the  sentiment  of  the  Epistle,  c/.  Odes,  ii.  16.  17-20. 

2.  Time  :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined.    Not  after  20  B.C. 

Quid  tibi  visa  Chios,  Bullati,  notaque  Lesbos, 
Quid  concinna  Samos,  quid  Croesi  regia  Sardis, 
Smyrna  quid  et  Colophon  ?  niaiora  rninorave  fama  ? 
Cunctane  prae  Campo  et  Tiberino  flumine  sordent, 
An  venit  in  votum  Attalicis  ex  urbibus  una,  5 

An  Lebedum  laudas  odio  maris  atque  viarum  ? 
1  Scis,  Lebedus  quid  sit :  Gabiis  desertior  atque 
Fidenis  vicus ;  tamen  illic  vivere  vellem, 
Oblitusque  meorum  obliviscendus  et  illis 
Neptunum  procul  e  terra  spectare  furentem.'  10 

Sed  neque,  qui  Capua  Romam  petit,  imbre  lutoque 


XII.]  LIBER  I.  105 

Aspersus  volet  in  caupona  vivere ;  nee  qui 

Frigus  collegit,  furnos  et  balnea  laudat 

Ut  fortunatani  plene  praestantia  vitam  ; 

Nee,  si  te  validus  iactaverit  Auster  in  alto,  15 

Idcirco  navem  trans  Aegaeum  niare  vendas. 

Incolumi  Khodos  et  Mytilene  pulchra  facit,  quod 

Paenula  solstitio,  campestre  nivalibus  auris, 

Per  brumam  Tiberis,  Sextili  mense  caminus. 

Dum  licet  ac  voltum  servat  Fortuna  benignum,  20 

Komae  laudetur  Sainos  et  Chios  et  Rhodes  absens. 

Tu  quamcumque  deus  tibi  fortunaverit  horam 
Grata  sume  manu  neu  dulcia  differ  in  annum, 
Ut  quocumque  loco  fueris,  vixisse  libenter 
Te  dicas ;  nam  si  ra|io  et  prudentia  curas,  25 

Non  locus  effusi  late  maris  arbiter  aufert, 
Caelum,  nbn  animum  mutant,  qui  trans  mare  currunt. 
Strenua  nos  exercet  inertia ;  navibus  atque 
Quadrigis  petimus  bene  vivere.     Quod  petis  hie  est, 
Est  Ulubris,  animus  si  te  non  deficit  aequus.  30 

XII. 

CONSOLATION. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  Iccius  is  represented  in  Odes,  i.  29,  as 
on  the  point  of  abandoning  the  study  of  philosophy,  in  order  to  go  to 
Arabia  in  search  of  wealth.     He  is  now  procurator  of  Agrippa's  estates 
in  Sicily.     He  seems  to  have  complained  to  Horace  of  his  failure  in 
attempting  to  make  a  fortune,  and  perhaps  also  of  the  small  amount 
of  time  which  he  could  devote  to  his  studies.     The  tone  of  the  reply  is 
one  of  good-natured  raillery. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Iccius  has  no  cause  to  complain.     Wealth  could  add  nothing 

to  his  bodily  health,  and  such  a  true  philosopher  would 
of  course  live  simply  under  any  circumstances,  1-11 ; 

2.  He  deserves  great  credit  for  keeping  up  his  interest  in  his  stud- 

ies in  spite  of  his  business  cares,  12-20  ; 


106  EPISTULARUM  [XII. 

3.  He  will  do  well  to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  Grosphus 

(cf.  Odes,  ii.  16),  21-24  ; 

4.  Horace  gives  his  friend  the  latest  news  from  Rome,  25-29. 

3.    Time :  20  B.C. 


Fructibus  Agrippae  Siculis,  quos  colligis,  Icci, 
Si  recte  frueris,  non  est  ut  copia  maior 
Ab  love  donari  possit  tibi.     Tolle  querellas ; 
Pauper  enim  non  est,  cui  rerum  suppetit  usus. 
Si  ventri  bene,  si  lateri  est  pedibusque  tuis,  nil  5 

Divitiae  poterunt  regales  addere  mains. 
Si  forte  in  medio  positorum  abstemius  herbis 
Vivis  et  urtica,  sic  vives  protinus,  ut  te' 
Confestim  liquidus  Fortunae  rivus  inauret, 
Vel  quia  naturam  mutare  pecunia  nescit,  10 

Vel  quia  cuncta  putas  una  virtute  niinora. 

Miramur,  si  Democriti  pecus  edit  agellos 
Cultaque,  dum  peregre  est  animus  sine  corpore  velox; 
Cum  tu  inter  scabiem  tantam  et  contagia  lucri 
Nil  parvum  sapias  et  adhuc  sublimia  cures :  15 

Quae  mare  compescant  causae,  quid  temperet  annum, 
Stellae  sponte  sua  iussaene  vagentur  et  errent, 
Quid  premat  obscurum  Lunae,  quid  proferat  orbem, 
Quid  velit  et  possit  rerum  concordia  discors, 
Empedocles  an  Stertinium  deliret  acumen  ?  20 

Verum  seu  piscis  seu  porrum  et  caepe  trucidas, 
Utere  Pompeio  Grospho  et  si  quid  petet,  ultro 
Defer ;  nil  Grosphus  nisi  verum  orabit  et  aequum. 
Vilis  amicorum  est  annona,  bonis  ubi  quid  deest. 

Ne  tamen  ignores,  quo  sit  Romana  loco  res,  25 

Cantaber  Agrippae,  Claudi  virtute  Neronis 
Armenius  cecidit ;  ius  imperiumque  Phraates 
Caesaris  accepit  genibus  minor ;  aurea  fruges 
Italiae  pleno  defundit  Copia  cornu. 


XIII.]  LIBER  I.  107 

XIII. 
INSTRUCTIONS  TO  A  MESSENGER. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :    Horace  sends  a  copy  of  his   Odes 
(Books  I.  to  III.)  to  Augustus  by  a  friend  of  his  in  court  circles,  one 
Vinius  Asina.     Instead  of  addressing  himself  directly  to  Augustus,  the 
poet  writes  a  playful  note  of  instruction  to  the  messenger,  whom  he 
likens,  on  account  of  his  cognomen,  to  a  beast  of  burden.    Its  purpose 
is  to  amuse  the  emperor,  and  at  the  same  time  to  express  Horace's  un- 
willingness to  force  his  works  on  him  at  an  unfavorable  time. 

2.  Outline : 

1.  Vinius  is  to  perform  his  mission  with  tact  and  discretion  or  not 

at  all,  1-9  ; 

2.  He  is  to  use  all  haste,  and  to  carry  and  deliver  the  book  grace- 

fully, 10-15 ; 

3.  He  is  not  to  boast  of  the  value  of  his  burden,  though  he  must 

guard  it  with  all  care,  16-19. 

3.  Time  :  23  or  22  B.C. 

Ut  proficiscentem  docui  te  saepe  diuque, 
Augusto  reddes  signata  volumina,  Vim, 
Si  validus,  si  laetus  erit,  si  denique  poscet ; 
Ne  studio  nostri  pecces  odiumque  libellis 
Sedulus  importes  opera  vehemente  minister.  5 

Si  te  forte  meae  gravis  uret  sarcina  chartae, 
Abicito  potius,  quam  quo  perferre  iuberis 
Clitellas  ferus  impingas,  Asinaeque  paternum 
Cognomen  vertas  in  risum  et  fabula  fias. 

Viribus  uteris  per  clivos,  flumina,  lamas.  10 

Victor  propositi  simul  ac  perveneris  illuc, 
Sic  positum  servabis  onus,  ne  forte  sub  ala 
Fasciculum  portes  librorurn  ut  rusticus  agnum, 
Ut  vinosa  glomus  furtivae  Pyrrhia  lanae, 
Ut  cum  pilleolo  soleas  conviva  tribulis.  15 

Ne  volgo  narres  te  sudavisse  ferendo 


108  EPISTULARUM  [XIV. 

Carniina  quae  possint  oculos  aurisque  morari 
Caesaris.     Oratus  multa  prece,  nitere  porro. 
Vade !  vale ;  cave  ne  titubes  inaudataque  frangas. 

XIV. 
MASTER  AND   SLAVE. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  Horace  has  been  obliged  to  remain  in 
town  longer  than  usual  on  account  of  the  illness  of  his  friend  L.  Aelius 
Lamia.     The  letter  is  addressed  to  his  steward,  who  had  been  discon- 
tented when  in  Rome,  but  is  now  longing  for  the  city. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  asks  which  is  the  more  successful,  the  steward  in  up- 

rooting weeds  from  the  soil,  or  his  master  in  clearing  his 
mind  of  the  weeds  of  discontent,  1-5  ; 

2.  Although  a  pious  duty  detains   Horace,  his   mind  will  turn 

towards  the  country.  In  this  respect  he  is  no  wiser  than 
his  slave,  6-13 ; 

3.  But  the  steward  longed  for  the  country  when  he  was  in  Rome : 

Horace  is  at  least  consistent.  Moreover,  the  slave  is  at- 
tracted by  the  low  pleasures  of  the  city  and  by  the  desire 
to  escape  the  hard  work  on  the  farm,  14-30  ; 

4.  The  master  has  learned  to  despise  degrading  amusements;  the 

slave  has  not,  and  is  therefore  discontented,  like  the 
majority  of  mankind,  31-44. 

3.  Time  :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined.     Not  after  20  B.C. 

Vilice  silvarum  et  inihi  me  reddentis  agelli, 
Quern  tu  fastidis,  habitatum  quinque  focis  et 
Quinque  bonos  solitum  Variam  diinittere  patres, 
Certemus,  spinas  animone  ego  fortius  an  tu 
Evellas  agro,  et  melior  sit  Horatius  an  res.  5 

Me  quamvis  Lamiae  pietas  et  cura  moratur, 
Fratrein  inaerentis,  rapto  de  fratre  dolentis 
Insolabiliter ;  tamen  istuc  mens  animusque 
Fert  et  amat  spatiis  obstantia  rumpere  claustra. 
Rure  ego  viventem,  tu  dicis  in  urbe  beaturn :  10 


XIV.]  LIBER   I.  109 

Cui  placet  alterius,  sua  nimirum  est  odio  sors. 
Stultus  uterque  locum  immeritum  causatur  inique : 
In  culpa  est  animus,  qui  se  non  effugit  uniquam. 

Tu  mediastinus  tacita  prece  rura  petebas, 
Nunc  urbem  et  ludos  et  balnea  vilicus  optas.  15 

Me  constare  mihi  scis  et  discedere  tristem, 
Quandocumque  trahunt  invisa  negotia  Romam. 
Non  eadem  miramur ;  eo  disconvenit  inter 
Meque  et  te ;  nam  quae  deserta  et  inhospita  tesqua 
Credis,  amoena  vocat  niecum  qui  sentit,  et  odit  20 

Quae  tu  pulchra  putas.     Fornix  tibi  et  uncta  popina 
Incutiunt  urbis  desiderium,  video,  et  quod 
Angulus  iste  feret  piper  et  tus  ocius  uva, 
Nee  vicina  subest  vinum'praebere  taberna 
Quae  possit  tibi,  nee  meretrix  tibicina,  cuius  25 

Ad  strepitum  salias  terrae  gravis  ;  et  tamen  urges 
lampridern  non  tacta  ligonibus  arva  bovemque 
Disiunctum  curas  et  strictis  f rondibus  exples ; 
Addit  opus  pigro  rivus,  si  decidit  imber, 
Multa  mole  docendus  aprico  parcere  prato.  30 

Nunc  age,  quid  nostrum  concentum  dividat  audi. 
Quern  tenues  decuere  togae  nitidique  capilli, 
Quern  scis  immunem  Cinarae  placuisse  rapaci, 
Quern  bibuluni  liquidi  media  de  luce  Falerni, 
Cena  brevis  iuvat  et  prope  rivum  somnus  in  herba.  35 

Nee  lusisse  pudet,  sed  non  incidere  ludum. 
Non  istic  obliquo  oculo  mea  commoda  quisquam  { 
Limat,  non  odio  obscuro  morsuque  venenat ; 
Bident  vicini  glaebas  et  saxa  rnoventern. 
Cum  servis  urbana  diaria  rodere  mavis  ;  40 

Horum  tu  in  numerum  voto  ruis  ;  invidet  usum 
Lignorum  et  pecoris  tibi  calo  argutus  et  horti. 
Optat  ephippia  bos  piger,  optat  arare  caballus. 
fouam  scit  uterque,  libens,  censebo,  exerceat  artemA 


110  EPISTULARUM  [XV. 

XV. 

A  REQUEST  FOR  INFORMATION. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :    Horace  has  now  decided  to  spend  the 
winter  at  the  seashore  (see  Epist.  i.  7.  11),  and  writes  to  a  friend  of 
his,  Numonius  Vala,  for  information  about  the  climate  and  resources 
of  Velia  and  Salernum.     Numonius  was  evidently  a  native  of  southern 
Italy  (c/.  line  25)  ;  the  family  is  known  from  inscriptions  of  Paestum, 
Vibo,  and  Regium. 

Horace  represents  himself  as  false  to  his  ideals  of  life  (cf.  i.  1.  18, 
nunc  in  Aristippi  furtim  praecepta  relabor)^  a  state  of  mind  doubtless 
due  to  his  ill-health  (cf.  i.  8.  3-12),  although  we  are  hardly  justified  in 
taking  him  quite  seriously. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  inquires  particularly  about  the  climate,  the  people,  the 

streets,  the  drinking-water,  and  the  meats  and  fish,  1-25  ; 

2.  He  explains  his  interest  in  matters  which  might  well  be  matters 

of  indifference  to  one  of  his  views  of  life  by  telling  the 
story  of  Maenius,  26-41 ; 

3.  He  admits  that  he  is  like  Maenius  in  being  fond  of  good  living, 

but  praising  simple  fare  when  he  can  get  nothing  better, 
42-46. 

3.  Time  :  The  Epistle  belongs  to  the  same  year  as  7,  8,  and  10,  i.e. 
21  B.C. 

Quae  sit  liiems  Veliae,  quod  caelum,  Vala,  Salerni, 
Quorum  hominum  regio  et  qualis  via  —  nam  mihi  Baias 
Musa  supervacuas  Antonius,  et  tamen  illis 
Me  facit  invisum,  gelida  cuni  perluor  unda 
Per  medium  frigus.     Sane  inurteta  reliiiqui  5 

Dictaque  cessantem  nervis  elidere  morbum 
Sulpura  contemni  vicus  gemit,  invidus  aegris, 
Qui  caput  et  stomachum  supponere  foiitibus  audent 
Clusinis,  Gabiosque  petunt  et  frigida  rura. 
Mutandus  locus  est  et  deversoria  nota  10 

Praeteragendus  equus.     'Quotendis?     Non  mihi  Cuma 
Est  iter  aut  Baias '  laeva  stomachosus  habena 


XV.]  LIBER   I.  Ill 

Dicet  eques ;  sed  equi  frenato  est  auris  in  ore— *~ 

Maior  utrum  populum  frumenti  Copia  pascat, 

Collectosne  bibant  imbres  puteosne  perennis  15 

lugis  aquae  —  nanuvina  nihil  moror.  illius  orae. 

Rure  ineo  possum  quidvis  perf  erre  patique ; 

Ad  mare  cum  veni,  generosum  et  lene  require, 

Quod  curas  abigat,  quod  cum  spe  divite  manet 

In  venas  animumque  meum,  quod  verba  ministret,  20 

Quod  me  Lucanae  iuvenem  commendet  amicae  — 

Tractus  uter  pluris  lepores,  uter  educet  apros ; 

Utra  magis  piscis  et  echinos  aequora  celent, 

Pinguis  ut  inde  domum  possim  Phaeaxque  reverti, 

Scribere  te  nobis,  tibi  iios  accredere  par  est.  25 

Maenius,  ut  rebus  maternis  atque  paternis 
Fortiter  absumptis  urbanus  coepit  haberi 
Scurra,  vagus,  non  qui  certum  praesepe  teneret, 
Impransus  non  qui  civem  dinosceret  hoste, 
Quaelibet  in  quemvis  opprobria  fingere  saeyus,  30 

Pernicies  et  tempestas  barathrumque  macelli, 
Quicquid  quaesierat,  ventri  donabat  avaro. 
Hie  ubi  nequitiae  fautoribus  et  timidis  nil 
Aut  paullum  abstulerat,  patinas  cenabat  omasi 
Vilis  et  agninae,  tribus  ursis  quod  satis  esset ;  35 

Scilicet  ut  ventres  lamna  candente  nepotum 
Diceret  urendos  correctus  Bestius.     Idem, 
Quicquid  erat  nanctus  praedae  maioris,  ubi  omne 
Verterat  in  fumum  et  cinerem,  'Non  hercule  miror/ 
Aiebat,  '  si  qui  comedunt  bona,  cum  sit  obeso  40 

Nil  melius  turdo,  nil  volva  pulchrius  ampla.' 

Nimirum  hie  ego  sum ;  nam  tuta  et  parvola  laudo, 
Cum  res  deficiunt,  satis  inter  vilia  fortis : 
Verum  ubi  quid  melius  contingit  et  unctius,  idem 
Vos  sapere  et  solos  aio  bene  vivere,  quorum  45 

Conspicitur  nitidis  fundata  pecunia  villis. 


112  EPISTULARUM  [XVI. 

XVI. 
HAPPINESS  DEPENDS  UPON  VIRTUE. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  Horace  fears  that  his  friend  Quinctius 
Hirpinus,  to  whom  he  addressed  Odes,  ii.  11,  cares  too  much  for  office 
and  for  political  favor.     He  reminds  him  in  what  true  virtue  consists, 
and  that  it  alone  can  confer  lasting  happiness. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  describes  the  simple  attractions  of  his  Sabine  Farm,  1-16 ; 

2.  Hirpinus  is  generally  regarded  as  a  happy  man  ;  he  can  be  truly 

so,  only  by  having  right  ideals  of  life,  17-20: 
a)  He  must  not  rate  too  highly  the  verdict  of  the  masses,  and 

think  himself  a  good  man  because  they  call  him  so,  21-32 ; 
6)  A  wise  man  will  not  value  their  honors,  which  they  can  take 

away  as  well  as  give,  or  fear  their  criticism,  33-40  ; 
c)   Appearances  are  deceitful.     A  man  may  be  outwardly  good, 

because  he  fears  the  law,  while  his  heart  is  filled  with  evil 

desires  ;  such  a  one  is  really  no  better  than  a  slave,  40-72  ; 
<f)  The  truly  virtuous  man  will  fear  nothing  ;  no  threats,  even 

of  death,  can  make  him  guilty  of  an  unworthy  act,  73-79. 

3.  Time :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined.    Not  after  20  B.C. 

Ne  perconteris,  fundus  meus,  optime  Quincti, 
Arvo  pascat  erum  an  bacis  opulentet  olivae 
Pomisne  et  pratis  an  amicta  vitibus  ulmo, 
Scribetur  tibi  forma  loquaciter  et  situs  agri. 
Continui  raontes,  ni  dissocientur  opaca  5 

Valle,  sed  ut  veniens  dextrum  latus  adspiciat  sol, 
Laevum  discedens  curru  fugiente  vaporet. 
Temperiem  laudes.     Quid  si  rubicunda  benigni 
Corna  vepres  et  pruna  ferant,  si  quercus  et  ilex 
Multa  f ruge  pecus,  multa  dominum  iuvet  umbra  ?  10 

Dicas  adductum  propius  frondere  Tarentum. 
Tons  etiam  rivo  dare  nomen  idoneus,  ut  nee 
Frigidior  Thracam  nee  purior  ambiat  Hebrus, 
Infirmo  capiti  fluit  utilis,  utilis  alvo. 


XVL]  LIBER  I.  113 

Hae  latebrae  dulces  etiam,  si  credis,  amoenae,  15 

Incolumeni  tibi  me  praestant  Septembribus  horis. 

Tu  recte  vivis,  si  curas  esse  quod  audis. 
lactamus  iam  pridem  omnis  te  Roma  beatum ; 
Sed  vereor  ne  cui  de  te  plus  quam  tibi  credas, 
Neve  putes  alium  sapiente  bonoque  beatum,  20 

Neu,  si  te  populus  sanum  recteque  valentem 
Dictitet,  occultam  febrem  sub  tempus  edendi 
Dissimules,  donee  manibus  tremor  incidat  unctis. 
Stultorum  incurata  pudor  malus  ulcera  celat. 
Si  quis  bella  tibi  terra  pugnata  marique  25 

Dicat,  et  his  verbis  vacuas  permulceat  auris, 
'  Tene  magis  salvum  populus  velit,  an  populum  tu, 
Servet  in  ambiguo,  qui  consulit  et  tibi  et  urbi, 
luppiter,'  August!  laudes  adgnoscere  possis ; 
Cum  pateris  sapiens  emendatusque  vocari,  30 

Respondesne  tuo,  die,  sodes,  nomine  ?     f  Neinpe 
Vir  bonus  et  prudens  dici  delector  ego  ac  tu.' 

Qui  dedit  hoc  hodie,  eras  si  volet  auferet,  ut  si 
Detulerit  fasces  indigno,  detrahet  idem. 
i  Pone,  meum  est/  inquit ;  pono  tristisque  recedo.  35 

Idem  si  clamet  furem,  neget  esse  pudicum, 
Contendat  laqueo  collum  pressisse  paternum, 
Mordear  opprobriis  falsis  mutemque  colores  ? 
Falsus  honor  iuvat  et  mendax  infamia  terret 
Quern  nisi  mendosum  et  medicandum  ? 

Vir  bonus  est  quis  ?     40 

1  Qui  consulta  patrum,  qui  leges  iuraque  servat, 
Quo  multae  magnaeque  secantur  iudice  lites, 
Quo  res  sponsore  et  quo  causae  teste  tenentur.' 
Sed  videt  hunc  omnis  domus  et  vicinia  tota 
Introrsum  turpem,  speciosum  pelle  decora.  45 

'  Nee  furtum  feci  nee  fugi,'  si  mihi  dicat 
Servus,  (  Habes  pretium,  loris  non  ureris,'  aio. 


114  EPISTULARUM  [XVI. 


1  Non  hominem  occidi.'     '  Non  pasces  in  cruc'e  corvos.' 

'  Sum  bonus  et  frugi.'     Eenuit  negitatque  Sabellus. 

Cautus  enim  metuit  foveam  lupus  accipiterque  50 

Suspectos  laqueos  et  opertum  miluus  hamum. 

Oderunt  peccare  boni  virtutis  amore. 

Tu  nihil  admittes  in  te  formidine  poenae. 

Sit  spes  fallendi,  miscebis  sacra  profanis. 

Nam  de  mille  fabae  modiis  cum  surripis  unum,  55 

Damnum  est,  non  facinus,  mini  pacto  lenius  isto. 

Yir  bonus,  omne  forum  quern  spectat  et  omne  tribunal, 

Quandocumque  deos  vel  porco  vel  bove  placat, 

1  lane  pater ! '  dare,  clare  cum  dixit  '  Apollo  ! ' 

Labra  movet  inetuens  audiri :  'Pulchra  Laverna,  60 

Da  mihi  fallere,  da  iusto  sanctoque  videri, 

Noctem  peccatis  et  fraudibus  obice  nubem.7 

Qui  melior  servo,  qui  liberior  sit  avarus, 

In  triviis  fixum  cum  se  demittit  ob  assem, 

Non  video :  nam  qui  cupiet,  metuet  quoque ;  porro  65 

Qui  metuens  vivet,  liber  mihi  non  erit  umquam. 

Perdidit  arma,  locum  virtutis  deseruit,  qui 

Semper  in  augenda  festinat  et  obruitur  re. 

Yendere  cum  possis  captivum,  occidere  noli. 

Serviet  utiliter ;  sine  pascat  durus  aretque,  70 

Naviget  ac  niediis  hiemet  mercator  in  undis, 

Annonae  prosit,  portet  frumenta  penusque. 

Vir  bonus  et  sapiens  audebit  dicere :  '  Pentheu, 
Rector  Thebarum,  quid  me  perferre  patique 
Indignum  coges  ? '     '  Adimam  bona.'     '  Nempe  pecus, 

rem,  75 

Lectos,  argentum.     Tollas  licet.'     '  In  manicis  et 
Compedibus  saevo  te  sub  custode  tenebo.' 
'  Ipse  deus,  simul  atque  volam,  me  solvet.'     Opinor, 
Hoc  sentit  '  Moriar.'     Mors  ultima  linea  rerum  est. 


XVII.]  LIBER   I.  115 


XVII. 

ON  TRUE   INDEPENDENCE. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  In  this  letter  addressed  to  Scaeva,  who 
is  otherwise  unknown,  Horace  shows  that  one  may  observe  proper 
deference  towards  a   patron  without  sacrificing  one's   self-respect, 
lie  gives  some  humorous  directions  for  gaining  the  favor  of  great 
men. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  modestly  asks  to  be  allowed  to  express  his  views  on 

the  subject,  1-5  ; 

2.  If  one  is  really  indifferent  to  riches  and  honors,  one  must  act 

accordingly,  6-12  ; 

3.  But  such  an  attitude  is  not  essential  to  a  proper  independence  : 
a)  This  is  shown  by  the  conduct  of  Aristippus.     The  excessive 

asceticism  of  Diogenes  was  due  to  the  fact  that  he  did 
not  know  how  to  act  in  good  company,  and  to  a  desire  to 
win  the  approbation  of  the  vulgar,  13-32  ; 
6)  There  is  no  disgrace  in  being  great.  Consequently  to  win 
the  friendship  of  the  great  is  not  of  necessity  degrading, 
33-42; 

4.  How  to  behave  toward  a  patron : 

a)  One  must  make  one's  requests  with  good  judgment,  and 
know  how  to  preserve  a  discreet  silence,  43-51 ; 

6)  The  client  must  not  clamor  for  help  in  all  his  little  troubles, 
or  he  will  not  be  taken  seriously  when  he  is  really  in 
difficulty,  52-62. 

3.  Time  :  The  exact  date  cannot  be  determined.    Not  after  20  B.C. 

Quamvis,  Scaeva,  satis  per  te  tibi  consulis  et  scis 
Quo  tandem  pacto  deceat  maioribus  uti, 
Disce,  docendus  adhuc  quae  censet  amiculus,  ut  si 
Caecus  iter  monstrare  velit ;  tamen  adspice,  si  quid 
Et  nos,  quod  cures  proprium  fecisse,  loquainur.  5 

Si  te  grata  quies  et  primam  somnus  in  horam 
Delectat,  si  te  pulvis  strepitusque  rotarum, 
Si  laedit  caupona,  Ferentinum  ire  iubebo. 


116  EPISTULARUM  [XVII. 

Nam  neque  divitibus  contingunt  gaudia  soils, 

Nee  vixit  male,  qui  natus  moriensque  fefellit.  10 

Si  prodesse  tuis  paulloque  benignius  ipsum 

Te  tractare  voles,  accedes  siccus  ad  unctum. 

'  Si  pranderet  holus  patienter,  regibus  uti 
Nollet  Aristippus.'     '  Si  sciret  regibus  uti, 
Fastidiret  holus  qui  me  notat.'     Utrius  liorum  15 

Verba  probes  et  facta  doce,  vel  iunior  audi 
Cur  sit  Aristippi  potior  sententia.     Namque 
Mordacem  Cynicum  sic  eludebat,  ut  aiunt : 
'  Scurror  ego  ipse  rnihi,  populo  tu ;  rectius  hoc  et 
Splendidius  multo  est.     Equus  ut  me  portet,  alat  rex,         20 
Officium  facio ;  tu  poscis  vilia,  verum 
Dante  minor,  quamvis  fers  te  nullius  egentem.' 
Omnis  Aristippum  decuit  color  et  status  et  res, 
Temptantem  maiora  fere,  praesentibus  aequum. 
Contra,  quern  duplici  panno  patientia  velat,  25 

Mirabor,  vitae  via  si  conversa  decebit. 
Alter  purpureum  non  exspectabit  amictum, 
Quidlibet  indutus  celeberrima  per  loca  vadet, 
Personamque  feret  non  inconcinnus  utramque; 
Alter  Mileti  textam  cane  peius  et  angue  30 

Vitabit  chlamydem ;  morietur  frigore,  si  non 
Kettuleris  pannum.     Eefer  et  sine  vivat  ineptus. 

Kes  gerere  et  captos  ostendere  civibus  hostis, 
Attingit  solium  lovis  et  caelestia  temptat. 
Principibus  placuisse  viris  non  ultima  laus  est.  35 

Non  cuivis  homini  con  tin  git  adire  Corinthum. 
Sedit  qui  timuit,  ne  non  succederet :  esto. 
Quid  ?  qui  pervenit,  fecitne  viriliter  ?     Atqui 
Hie  est  aut  nusquam  quod  quaerimus.     Hie  onus  horret, 
Ut  parvis  animis  et  parvo  corpore  maius  ;  40 

Hie  subit  et  perfert.     Aut  virtus  nomen  inane  est, 
Aut  decus  et  pretiurn  recte  petit  experiens  vir. 


XVIII.]  LIBER   I.  117 

Coram  rege  suo  de  paupertate  tacentes 
Plus  poscente  ferent.     Distat,  sumasne  pudenter 
An  rapias ;  atqui  rerum  caput  hoc  erat,  hie  fons.  45 

'  Indotata  mihi  soror  est,  paupercula  mater, 
Et  fundus  nee  vendibilis  nee  pascere  firmus ' 
Qui  dicit,  clamat  '  Victum  date.'     Succinit  alter 
'  Et  mihi ! '  dividuo  findetur  munere  quadra. 
Sed  tacitus  pasci  si  posset  corvus,  haberet  60 

Plus  dapis,  et  rixae  multo  minus  invidiaeque. 

Brundisium  comes  aut  Surrentum  ductus  amoenum, 
Qui  queritur  salebras  et  acerbum  frigus  et  irnbres, 
Aut  cistam  effractam  et  subducta  viatica  plorat, 
Nota  refert  meretricis  acumina,  saepe  catellam,  55 

Saepe  periscelidem  raptam  sibi  flentis,  uti  mox 
Nulla  fides  damnis  verisque  doloribus  adsit. 
Nee  semel  inrisus  triviis  attollere  curat 
Fracto  crure  planum.     Licet  illi  plurima  manet 
Lacrima,  per  sanctum  iuratus  dicat  Osirim,  60 

*  Credite,  non  ludo ;  crudeles,  tollite,  claudum ; ' 
1  Quaere  peregrinum '  vicinia  rauca  reclamat. 


XVIII. 
ON  THE  PROPER  DEMEANOR  TOWARDS  A  PATRON. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  Horace's  friend  Lollius  Maximus  (see 
i.  2)  had  evidently  found  a  powerful  and  distinguished  patron  who 
is  unknown  to  us.     The  high-spirited  and  well-connected  young  man 
seems  to  have  found  the  relation  somewhat  trying,  and  Horace  assures 
him  that  he  can  show  a  proper  deference  without  laying  himself  open 
to  the  charge  of  obsequiousness. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  An  excessive  display  of  independence  is  ill-judged  and  un- 
necessary. The  true  gentleman  does  not  need  to  vindi- 
cate his  claim  to  the  title,  1-20} 


118  EPISTULARUM  [XVIII. 

2.  Certain  marks  of  consideration  are  due  a  man  from  whom  one 

is  willing  to  accept  patronage  : 

a)  A  life  of  high  ideals.     The  great  man  can  allow  himself 

some  indulgences  which  would  ruin  his  prote'ge'.     One 

'   must  regulate  one's  conduct  according  to  one's  position 

in  life,  21-36 ; 
6)  Respect  for  the  patron's  confidences,  37-38  ; 

c)  An  effort  to  take  part  cheerfully  in  his  amusements,  re- 

gardless of  one's  own  inclinations,  39-66  ; 

d)  Discretion  in  criticising  others,  66-71  ; 

e)  And  in  his  relations  with  the  patron's  household,  72-75  ; 
/)  Extreme  care  in  recommending  men  to  the  patron's  favor, 

but  unfailing  loyalty  to  those  whom  he  has  once  judged 
worthy  of  it,  76-85  ; 

3.  To  maintain  a  proper  attitude  is  not  easy.     It  requires  : 

a)  Constant  watchfulness  of  one's  conduct  and  no  little  self- 
denial,  86-95 ; 

6)  A  constant  study  of  the  true  philosophy  of  life  and  of  the 
real  causes  of  happiness,  96-103  ; 

c)  Horace's  own  ideas  of  happiness,  104-112. 

3.   Time  :  20  B.C. 

Si  bene  te  novi,  metues,  liberrime  Lolli, 
Scurrantis  speciem  praebere,  professus  amicum. 
Ut  matrona  meretrici  dispar  erit  atque 
Discolor,  infido  scurrae  distabit  amicus. 
Est  huic  diversum  vitio  vitium  prope  mains,  5 

Asperitas  agrestis  et  inconcinna  gravisque, 
Quae  se  commendat  tonsa  cute,  dentibus  atris, 
Dum  volt  libertas  dici  mera  veraque  virtus. 
Virtus  est  medium  vitiorum  et  utrimque  reductum. 
Alter  in  obsequiuni  plus  aequo  pronus  et  imi  10 

Derisor  lecti  sic  nutum  divitis  horret, 
Sic  iterat  voces  et  verba  cadentia  tollit, 
Ut  puerum  saevo  credas  dictata  magistro 
Reddere  vel  partis  minium  tractare  secundas; 
Alter  rixatur  de  lana  saepe  caprina,  15 

Propugnat  nugis  armatus  :  ( Scilicet,  ut  non 


XVIII.]  LIBER  I.  119 

Sit  mihi  prima  fides  et,  vere  quod  placet,  ut  non 
Acriter  elatrem,  pretium  aetas  altera  sordet.' 
Ambigitur  quid  enim  ?     Castor  sciat  an  Docilis  plus ; 
Brundisium  Minuci  melius  via  ducat  an  Appi.  20 

Quern  damnosa  Venus,  quern  praeceps  alea  nudat,     da./* 
Gloria  quern  supra  vires  et  vestit  et  unguit, 
Quern  tenet  argenti  sitis  importuna  famesque, 
Quern  paupertatis  pudor  et  fuga,  dives  amicus, 
Saepe  decem  vitiis  instructior,  odit  et  horret,  25 

Aut,  si  non  odit,  regit  ac  veluti  pia  mater 
Plus  quam  se  sapere  et  virtutibus  esse  priorem 
Volt  et  ait  prope  vera:  '  Meae  —  contendere  noli  — 
Stultitiam  patiuntur  opes ;  tibi  parvola  res  est. 
Arta  decet  sanum  comitem  toga ;  desine  niecum  30 

Certare.'     Eutrapelus  cuicumque  nocere  volebat 
Vestimenta  dabat  pretiosa :  '  Beatus  enim  iam 
Cum  pulchris  tunicis  sumet  nova  consilia  et  spes, 
Dormiet  in  lucem,  scorto  postponet  honestum 
Officium,  nummos  alienos  pascet,  ad  imum  35 

Thraex  erit  aut  holitoris  aget  mercede  caballuin.' 

Arcanum  neque  tu  scrutaberis  illius  umquam, 
Commissumque  teges  et  vino  tortus  et  ira. 
Nee  tua  laudabis  studia  aut  aliena  reprendes, 
Nee,  cum  venari  volet  ille,  poemata  panges.  40 

Gratia  sic  fratrum  geminorum,  Amphionis  atque 
Zethi,  dissiluit,  donee  suspecta  severo 
Conticuit  lyra.     Fraternis  cessisse  putatur 
Moribus  Amphion:  tu  cede  potentis  amici 
Lenibus  imperiis,  quotiensque  educet  in  agros  45 

Aetolis  onerata  plagis  iumenta  canesque, 
Surge  et  inhumanae  senium  depone  Camenae, 
Cenes  ut  pariter  pulmenta  laboribus  empta ; 
Eomanis  sollemne  viris  opus,  utile  famae 
Vitaeque  et  membris,  praesertim  cum  valeas  et  50 


120  EPISTULARUM  [XVIII. 

Vel  cursu  superare  canem  vel  viribus  aprum 

Possis.     Adde  virilia  quod  speciosius  arma 

Non  est  qui  tractet ;  scis,  quo  clamore  coronae 

Proelia  sustineas  campestria ;  denique  saevam 

Militiam  puer  et  Cantabrica  bella  tulisti  55 

Sub  duce  qui  templis  Parthorum  signa  refigit 

Nunc  et,  si  quid  abest,  Italis  adiudicat  armis. 

Ac  ne  te  retrahas  et  inexcusabilis  absis, 

Quamvis  nil  extra  nuinerum  fecisse  modumque 

Curas,  interdum  nugaris  rure  paterno  :  60 

Partitur  lintres  exercitus,  Actia  pugna 

Te  duce  per  pueros  hostili  more  ref ertur ; 

Adversarius  est  frater,  lacus  Hadria,  donee 

Alterutrum  velox  victoria  fronde  coronet. 

Consentire  suis  studiis  qui  crediderit  te,  65 

Fautor  utroque  tuum  laudabit  pollice  ludum. 

Protinus  ut  moneam  —  siquid  monitoris  eges  tu,  — 
Quid  de  quoque  viro  et  cui  dicas,  saepe  videto. 
Percontatorem  f ugito ;  nam  garrulus  idem  est, 
Nee  retinent  patulae  commissa  fideliter  aures,  70 

Et  semel  emissum  volat  inrevocabile  verbum. 

Non  ancilla  tuum  iecur  ulceret  ulla  puerve 
Intra  marmoreum  venerandi  limen  amici, 
Ne  dominus  pueri  pulchri  caraeve  puellae 
Munere  te  parvo  beet  aut  incommodus  angat.  75 

Qualem  commendes,  etiam  atque  etiam  aspice,  ne  mox 
Incutiant  aliena  tibi  peccata  pudorem. 
Fallimur  et  quondam  non  dignum  tradimus :  ergo 
Quern  sua  culpa  premet,  deceptus  omitte  tueri, 
Ut  penitus  notum,  si  temptent  crimina,  serves  80 

Tuterisque  tuo  fidentem  praesidio :  qui 
Dente  Theonino  cum  circumroditur,  ecquid 
Ad  te  post  paullo  ventura  pericula  sentis  ? 
Nam  tua  res  agitur,  paries  cum  proximus  ardet, 


XVIII.]  LIBER   I.  121 

Et  neglecta  solent  incendia  sumere  vires.  85 

Dulcis  inexpertis  cultura  potentis  amici ; 
Expertus  metuet.     Tu,  dum  tua  navis  in  alto  est, 
Hoc  age,  ne  mutata  retrorsum  te  ferat  aura. 
Oderunt  hilarem  tristes  tristemque  iocosi, 
Sedatum  celeres,  agilem  navumque  remissi ;  90 

Potores  bibuli  media  de  nocte  Falerni 
Oderunt  porrecta  negantem  pocula,  quamvis 
Nocturnes  iures  te  formidare  tepores. 
Deme  supercilio  nubem  :  plerumque  modestus 
Occupat  obscuri  speciem,  taciturnus  acerbi.  95 

Inter  cuncta  leges  et  percontabere  doctos, 
Qua  ratione  queas  traducere  leniter  aevum, 
Num  te  semper  inops  agitet  vexetque  cupido, 
Num.  pavor  et  rerum  mediocriter  utilium  spes, 
Virtutem  doctrina  paret  naturane  donet,  100 

Quid  minuat  curas,  quid  te  tibi  reddat  amicum, 
Quid  pure  tranquillet,  honos  an  dulce  lucellum, 
An  secretum  iter  et  fallentis  semita  vitae. 

Me  quotiens  reficit  gelidus  Digentia  rivus, 
Quern  Mandela  bibit,  rugosus  frigore  pagus,  105 

Quid  sentire  putas  ?     Quid  credis,  amice,  precari  ? 
'  Sit  mihi,  quod  nunc  est,  etiam  minus,  ut  mihi  vivam 
Quod  superest  aevi,  si  quid  superesse  volunt  di; 
Sit  bona  librorum  et  provisae  frugis  in  annum 
Copia,  neu  fluitem  dubiae  spe  pendulus  horae.'  110 

Sed  satis  est  orare  lovem,  quae  ponit  et  aufert ; 
Det  vitam,  det  opes;  aequum  mi  animum  ipse  parabo. 


122  EPISTULARUM  [XIX. 

XIX. 

THE   POET  ON  HIS  CRITICS. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  The  Odes  (Books  I.-III.)  had  evidently 
met  with  unfavorable  criticism  outside  of  the  small  circle  of  the  poet's 
friends.  He  points  out  to  Maecenas  the  injustice  of  the  charges  which 
have  been  made  against  him,  and  expresses  contempt  for  his  detrac- 
tors. 

2     Outline: 

1.  It  is  one  thing  to  follow  a  model,  quite  another  to  stoop  to 

slavish  and  ignorant  imitation  : 
a)  Because   Homer,  Cratinus,  and  Ennius  have  written  in 

praise  of  wine,  obscure  poets  hope  to  become  great  by 

hard  drinking,  1-11  ; 
6)  Just  as  if  the  virtue  of  a  Cato  depended  on  his  stern  face 

and  careless  dress,  or  a  poet's  success  on  his  complexion, 

12-18  ; 

2.  Horace  is  a  pioneer  and  no  imitator.     He  followed  Greek 

originals,  but  not  with  servile  imitation.  Alcaeus  and 
Sappho  also  had  their  models,  19-34; 

3.  The  real  reason  for  his  unpopularity  is  that  he  has  not  tried 

to  please  the  masses,  or  deigned  to  court  the  favor  of 
the  critics.  If  he  is  therefore  accused  of  arrogance,  he 
prefers  not  to  argue  the  matter,  35-49. 

3.  Time :  From  its  position  in  the  collection  the  letter  would  seem 
to  belong  to  the  year  20  B.C. 

Frisco  si  credis,  Maecenas  docte,  Cratino, 
Nulla  placere  dm  nee  vivere  carmina  possunt, 
Quae  scribuntur  aquae  potoribus.     Ut  male  sanos 
Adscripsit  Liber  Satyris  Faunisque  poetas, 
Vina  fere  dulces  oluerunt  mane  Camenae.  5 

Laudibus  arguitur  vini  vinosus  Homerus ; 
Ennius  ipse  pater  numquam  nisi  potus  ad  arma 
Prosiluit  dicenda.     '  Forum  putealque  Libonis 
Mandabo  siccis,  adimam  cantare  severis: ' 
Hoc  simul  edixi,  non  cessavere  poetae  10 


XIX.J  LIBER   I.  123 

Nocturne  certare  mero,  putere  diurno. 

Quid  ?     Si  quis  voltu  torvo  ferns  et  pede  nudo 

Exiguaeque  togae  simulet  textore  Catonem, 

Virtutemne  repraesentet  moresque  Catonis  ? 

Rupit  larbitam  Timagenis  aemula  lingua,  15 

Dum  studet  urbanus  tenditque  disertus  haberi. 

Decipit  exemplar  vitiis  imitabile.     Quod  si 

Pallerem  casu,  biberent  exsangue  cuminum. 

0  imitatores,  servum  pecus,  ut  mihi  saepe 
Bilem,  saepe  iocnm  vestri  movere  tumultus!  20 

Libera  per  vacuum  posui  vestigia  princeps, 
Non  aliena  meo  pressi  pede.     Qui  sibi  fidet, 
Dux  reget  examen.     Parios  ego  primus  iambos 
Ostendi  Latio,  numeros  animosque  secutus 
Archilochi,  non  res  et  agentia  verba  Lycatnben.  25 

Ac  ne  me  foliis  ideo  brevioribus  ornes, 
Quod  timui  mutare  modos  et  carminis  artem, 
Temperat  Archilochi  musam  pede  mascula  Sappho, 
Temperat  Alcaeus,  sed  rebus  et  ordine  dispar, 
Nee  socerum  quaerit,  quern  versibus  oblinat  atris,  30 

Nee  sponsae  laqueum  famoso  carmine  nectit. 
Hunc  ego,  non  alio  dictum  prius  ore,  Latinus 
Volgavi  fidicen.     luvat  irnmernorata  ferentem 
Ingenuis  oculisque  legi  manibusque  teneri. 

Scire  velis,  mea  cur  ingratus  opuscula  lector  35 

Laudet  ametque  domi,  premat  extra  limen  iniquus : 
Non  ego  ventosae  plebis  suffragia  venor 
Impensis  cenarum  et  tritae  rnunere  vestis ; 
Non  ego,  nobilium  scriptorum  auditor  et  ultor, 
Grammaticas  ambire  tribus  et  pulpita  dignor.  40 

Hinc  illae  lacriniae.     'Spissis  indigna  theatris, 
Scripta  pudet  recitare  et  nugis  addere  pondus ' 
Si  dixi,  '  Rides '  ait,  '  et  lovis  auribus  ista 
Servas ;  fidis  enini,  manare  poetica  mella 


124  EPISTULARUM  [XX. 

Te  solum,  tibi  pulcher.'     Ad  haec  ego  naribus  uti  45 

Formido  et,  luctantis  acuto  ne  secer  ungui,- 
'Displicet  iste  locus'  clamo  et  diludia  posco. 
Ludus  enim  genuit  trepidum  certamen  et  iram,  • 
Ira  trucis  inimicitiaset  funebre  bellum. 


XX. 

EPILOGUE. 

1.  Subject  of  the  Epistle:   Horace  addresses  his  book,  which  is 
represented  as  anxious  to  try  its  fate  with  the  public.     He  compares 
it  to  a  young  and  beautiful  slave,  and  foretells  its  destiny. 

2.  Outline  : 

1.  The  poet  warns  his  book  that,  once  issued,  it  cannot  return, 

1-8; 

2.  He  predicts  its  career : 

a)  Success  until  it  falls  into  the  hands  of  the  vulgar ; 

6)  Banishment  to  the  provinces  ; 

c)   An  old  age  spent  in  the  schools,  9-18  ; 

3.  He  charges  it  in  the  days  of  its  prosperity  to  make  known  the 

parentage,  career,   and   personal   characteristics   of   its 
author,  19-28. 

3.  Time  :  Between  December  8,  21  B.C.,  and  December  8,  20  B.C. 

Vertumimm  lanumque,  liber,  spectare  videris, 
Scilicet  lit  prostes  Sosiorum  pumice  mundus. 
Odisti  clavis  et  grata  sigilla  pudico, 
Paucis  ostendi  gemis  et  communia  laudas, 
Non  ita  nutritus.     Fuge  quo  descendere  gestis  :  5 

Non  erit  emisso  reditus  tibi.     '  Quid  miser  egi  ? 
Quid  volui  ? '  dices,  ubi  quid  te  laeserit,  et  scis 
In  breve  te  cogi,  cum  plenus  languet  amator. 

Quodsi  non  odio  peccantis  desipit  augur, 
Cams  eris  Eomae,  donee  te  deserat  aetas ;  10 

Contrectatus  ubi  manibus  sordescere  volgi 


XX.]  LIBER   I.  125 

Coeperis,  aut  tineas  pasces  taciturnus  inertis 

Aut  fugles  Uticam  aut  vinctus  mitteris  Ilerdam. 

Ridebit  monitor  non  exauditus,  ut  ille 

Qui  male  parentem  in  rupes  protrusit  asellum  15 

Iratus ;  quis  enini  in vi turn  servare  laboret  ? 

Hoc  quoque  te  manet,  ut  pueros  elementa  docentem 

Occupet  extremis  in  vicis  balba  senectus. 

Cum  tibi  sol  tepidus  pluris  admoverit  auris, 
Me  libertino  natum  patre  et  in  tenui  re  20 

Maiores  pinnas  nido  extendisse  loqueris, 
Ut  quantum  generi  demas,  virtutibus  addas ; 
Me  primis  urbis  belli  placuisse  domique, 
Corporis  exigui,  praecanum,  solibus  aptum, 
Irasci  celerem,  tamen  ut  placabilis  essem.  25 

Forte  meum  si  quis  te  percontabitur  aevum, 
Me  quater  undenos  sciat  implevisse  Decembris, 
Collegam  Lepidum  quo  dixit  Lollius  anno. 


EPISTULARUM 

LIBER  SECUNDUS. 


i. 

ON  THE  POPULAR  TASTE  AND  JUDGMENT. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :  Horace  dedicates  his  second  collection 
of  Letters  to  Augustus,  who  had  apparently  urged  him  to  undertake 
something  in  the  line  of  dramatic  or  of  epic  poetry.     He  complains  of 
the  poor  taste  shown  by  the  general  public,  especially  in  regard  to  the 
drama,  and  says  that  he  is  unwilling  to  make  an  attempt  in  that  line. 
For  epic  poetry  he  has  no  ability. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  will  be  brief  and  not  make  great  demands  on  the  time 

of  a  busy  man,  1-4  ; 

2.  Augustus  is  more  fortunate  than  Romulus,  Castor  and  Pollux, 

and  Hercules,  in  having  his  services  to  his  country  recog- 
nized during  his  lifetime,  5-17  ; 

3.  In  this  the  people  have  shown  excellent  judgment ;    but  in 

literary  criticism  they  fail  to  use  the  same  discrimination  : 
a)  They  admire  only  what  is  ancient,  justifying  themselves  by 

the  plea  that  the  earliest  works  of  the  Greeks  were  their 

best,  18-33  ; 

6)  If  their  view  is  correct,  what  limits  would  they  set  ?    An- 
tiquity is  a  relative  term,  34-49  ; 
c)  They  blindly  follow  the  critics  and  admire  everything  from 

Livius  down  to  their  own  day,  50-62  ; 
d}  Horace  is  ready  to  agree  with  them  in  praising  the  earlier 

writers,  if  only  they  will  be  reasonable,  63-68 ; 
e)   He  has  no  patience  with  admiration  of  ancient  poetry  as 

such,  and  with  wilful  blindness  to  its  obvious  defects, 

69-85;    ' 

126 


LIBER    II.  127 

/)  The  real  motive  of  the'  critics  is  envy  of  their  contem- 
poraries. That  the  Greeks  had  had  no  such  spirit  is 
shown  by  the  development  of  their  literature,  which 
would  otherwise  have  ended,  as  it  began,  with  Homer, 
86-102  ; 

4.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Roman  literature,  like  the  Greek,  de- 

veloped gradually  : 
a)  The  people  were  for  a  long  time  devoted  to  practical  life 

and  to  money-making,  103-107  ; 
6)  Nowadays  every  one  writes,  regardless  of  his  fitness  for 

such  work.     Even  Horace   cannot  keep  his  resolve  to 

compose  no  more  poetry,  108-117  ; 
c)  This  state  of  things  has  its  advantages  : 

1)  It  cultivates  an  indifference  to  material  things,  118- 

125; 

2)  It  fosters  general  education  and  refinement  by  pre- 

senting worthy  models  for  imitation,  126-131 ; 

3)  It  furnishes  a  means  by  which  men  may  address 

the  gods,  132-138 ; 

5.  This  gradual  development  is  clearly  seen  in  the  history  of 

dramatic  poetry  : 
a)  Out  of  the  harvest  festivals  grew  a  rude  Italic  drama,  whose 

freedom  of  speech  had  finally  to  be  regulated  by  law, 

139-155 ; 
6)  But  our  conquest  of  Greece  led  to  the   introduction  of 

Greek  art,  though  the  native  uncouthness  was  only  grad- 
ually eliminated,  156-160  ; 
c)  First  came  tragedy,  well  suited  to  Roman  tastes,  but  marred 

by  careless  composition,  161-167  ; 
eZ)  Then  comedy,  which  suffers  even  more  from  careless  writing, 

in  which  Plautus  made  but  an  indifferent  success,  168-176  ; 

6.  To-day  dramatic  poetry  has  passed  its  zenith,  and  Horace  has 

no  desire  to  write  in  that  line,  177-181 : 
a)  For  success  depends  largely  on  the  judgment  of  the  masses, 

who  care  only  for  spectacular  effects,  182-186  ; 
&)  While  the  better  class  have  similar  tastes  in  a  slightly  higher 

form,  187-200  ; 
c)  The  audience  is  noisy  and  cares  not  what  the  actor  says, 

provided  he  makes  an  imposing  appearance,  200-207. 

7.  Still  Horace  has  no  prejudice  against  dramatic  writing  as  such, 

provided  it  be  done  with  due  care,  208-213  ; 

8.  But  he  believes  that  Augustus  ought  especially  to  favor  epic 

and  lyric  verse : 


128  EPISTULARUM  [I. 

a)  They  are  worthy  of  his  patronage,  although  some  poets  run 
the  risk  of  losing  it : 

1)  By  presenting  their  works  at  an  unfavorable  time  ; 

2)  By  oversensitiveness  to  criticism  ; 

3)  By  a  lack  of  originality ; 

4)  And  by  too  great  a  desire  for  recognition,  214-228  ; 
6)  He  should  be  careful  in  selecting  those  who  are  to  sing  his 

praises : 

1)  It  would  be  bad  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  Choerilus, 

whom  Alexander,  in  spite  of  his  good  taste  in 
painting  and  sculpture,  judged  so  falsely,  229-244  ; 

2)  But  Augustus  has  better  taste,  and  has  honored 

himself  by  honoring  Varius  and  Virgil,  245-250  ; 

3)  Horace  himself  would  gladly  write  an  epic  if  he  had 

the  ability,  250-257  ; 

4)  But  Augustus  is  worthy  of  a  greater  poet.     Horace 

does  not  wish  to  undertake  a  task  beyond  his 
powers,  and  thus  do  more  harm  than  good,  257- 
263; 

5)  His   reluctance   is  due  less  to    consideration    for 

Augustus,  than  to  regard  for  his  own  reputation, 
264-270. 
3.   Time:  14  B.C. 

Cum  tot  sustineas  et  tanta  negotia  solus> 
Ees  Italas  armis  tuteris,  moribus  ornes, 
Legibus  eniendes;  in  publica  commoda  peccem, 
Si  longo  sermone  merer  tua  tempera,  Caesar. 

Romulus  et  Liber  pater  et  cum  Castore  Pollux,          5 
Post  ingentia  facta  deorum  in  templa  recepti, 
Dum  terras  hominumque  colunt  genus,  aspera  bella 
Componunt,  agros  adsignant,  oppida  conduut, 
Ploravere  suis  non  respondere  favorem 
Speratum  meritis.     Dirarn  qui  contudit  hydram  10 

Notaque  fatali  portenta  labore  subegit, 
Comperit  invidiam  supremo  fine  domari. 
Urit  enim  fulgore  suo,  qui  praegravat  artis 
<    Infra  se  positas ;  exstinctus  amabitur  idem. 
Praesenti  tibi  matures  largimur  honores,  15 


I.]  LIBER   II.  129 

lurandasque  tuum  per  numen  ponimus  aras, 
Nil  orituruin  alias,  nil  ortuin  tale  fatentes. 

Sed  tuus  hie  populus,  sapiens  et  iustus  in  uno, 
Te  nostris  ducibus,  te  Grais  anteferendo, 
Cetera  nequaquam  simili  ration e  modoque  20 

Aestimat  et,  nisi  quae  terris  semota  suisque 
Temporibus  defuncta  videt,  fastidit  et  odit, 
Sic  fautor  veterum,  ut  tabulas  peccare  vetantis 
Quas  bis  quinque  viri  sanxerunt,  foedera  regum 
Vel  Gabiis  vel  cum  rigidis  aequata  Sabinis,  25 

Pontificuni  libros,  annosa  volumina  vatum 
Dictitet  Albano  Musas  in  monte  locutas. 
Si,  quia  Graecorum  sunt  antiquissima  quaeque 
Scripta  vel  optima,  Komani  pensantur  eadem 
Scriptores  trutina,  non  est  quod  multa  loquamur :  30 

Nil  intra  est  olea,  nil  extra  est  in  iiuce  duri ;   - 
Venimus  ad  summum  fortunae,  pingimus  atque 
Psallimus  et  luctamur  Achivis  doctius  ujictis. 

Si  meliora  dies,  ut  vina,  poemata  reddit, 
Scire  velim,  chartis  pretiuni  quotus  adroget  annus.  35 

Scriptor  abhinc  annos  centum  qui  decidit,  inter 
Perfectos  veteresque  referri  debet  an  inter 
Vilis  atque  novos  ?      Excludat  iurgia  finis  ! 
<  Est  vetus  atque  probus,  centum  qui  perficit  annos.' 
Quid  ?  qui  deperiit  minor  uno  mense  vel  anno,  40 

Inter  quos  referendus  erit  ?     Veteresne  poetas, 
An  quos  et  praesens  et  postera  respuat  aetas  ? 
'  Iste  quidern  veteres  inter  ponetur  honeste, 
Qui  vel  mense  brevi  vel  toto  est  iunior  anno/ 
Utor  permisso,  caudaeque  pilos  ut  equinae  45 

Paullatim  vello,  et  demo  unum,  demo  etiam  unum 
Dum  cadat  elusus  ratione  mentis  acervi, 
Qui  redit  in  fastos  et  virtutem  aestimat  annis 
Miraturque  nihil  nisi  quod  Libitina  sacravit. 


130  EPISTULARUM  [I. 

Ennius,  et  sapiens  et  fortis  et  alter  Homerus,  50 

Ut  critic!  dicunt,  leviter  curare  videtur, 
Quo  promissa  cadant  et  somnia  Pythagorea. 
Naevius  in  manibus  non  est  et  mentibus  haeret 
Paene  recens  ?     Adeo  sanctum  est  vetus  omne  poema. 
Ambigitur  quotiens  uter  utro  sit  prior,  aufert  55 

Pacuvius  docti  famam  senis,  Accius  alti;     tyht 
Dicitur  Afrani  toga  convenisse  Menandro, 
Plautus  ad  exemplar  Siculi  properare  Epicharnii, 
Vincere  Caecilius  gravitate,  Terentius  arte. 
Hos  ediscit  et  hos  arto  stipata  theatro  60 

Spectat  Roma  potens,  habet  hos  numeratque  poetas 
Ad  nostrum  tempus  Livi  scriptoris  ab  aevo. 

Interdum  volgus  rectum  yidet ;  est  ubi  peccat. 
Si  veteres  ita  miratur  laudatque  poetas, 
Ut  nihil  antef erat,  nihil  illis  comparet,  errat ;  65 

Si  quaedam  niniis  antique,  si  pleraque  dure 
Dicere  credit  eos,  ignave  multa  fatetur, 
Et  sapit  et  niecum  facit  et  love  iudicat  aequo. 

Non  equidem  in  sector  delendave  carmina  Livi 
Esse  reor,  memini  quae  plagosum  mini  parvo  70 

Orbilium  dictare ;  sed  emendata  videri 
Pulchraque  et  exactis  minimum  distantia  miror. 
Inter  quae  verbum  emicuit  si  forte  decorum, 
Si  versus  paullo  concinnior  unus  et  alter, 
Iniuste  totum  ducit  venditque  poema.  75 

Indignor  quicquam  reprehendi,  non  quia  crasse 
Compositum  inlepideve  putetur,  sed  quia  nuper, 
Nee  veniam  antiquis,  sed  honorem  et  praemia  posci. 
Recte  necne  crocum  floresque  perambulet  Attae 
Fabula  si  dubitem,  clament  periisse  pudorem  80 

Cuncti  paene  patres,  ea  cum  reprehendere  coner, 
Quae  gravis  Aesopus,  quae  doctus  Roscius  egit ; 
Vel  quia  nil  rectum,  nisi  quod  placuit  sibi,  ducunt, 


L]  LIBER   II.  131 

Vel  quia  turpe  putant  parere  minoribus,  et  quae 

Imberbes  didicere,  senes  perdenda  fateri.  85 

lam  Saliare  Numae  carmen  qui  laudat  et  illud, 
Quod  mecum  ignorat,  solus  volt  scire  videri, 
Ingeniis  non  ille  favet  plauditque  sepultis, 
Nostra  sed  impugnat,  nos  nostraque  lividus  odit. 
Quod  si  tarn  Graiis  novitas  invisa  fuisset  ^  90 

Quam  nobis,  quid  nunc  esset  vetus  ?     Aut  quid  haberet, 
Quod  legeret  tereretque  viritim  publicus  usus  ? 
Ut  primum  positis  nugari  Graecia  bellis 
Coepit  et  in  vitiuni  fortuna  labier  aequa, 
Nunc  athletamm  studiis,  nunc  arsit  equorum,  95 

Marmoris  aut  eboris  fabros  aut  aeris  amavit, 
Suspendit  picta  voltum  mentemque  tabella, 
Nunc  tibicinibus,  nunc  est  gavisa  tragoedis ; 
Sub  nutrice  puella  velut  si  luderet  infans, 
Quod  cupide  petiit,  mature  plena  reliquit.  100 

Quid  placet  aut  odio  est,  quod  non  rnutabile  credas  ? 
Hoc  paces  habuere  bonae  ventique  secundi. 

Romae  dulce  diu  fuit  et  sollemne  reclusa 
Mane  domo  vigilare,  clienti  proniere  iura, 
Cautos  nominibus  rectis  expendere  nummos,  .        105 

Maiores  audire,  minori  dicere  per  quae 
Crescere  res  posset,  minui  damnosa  libido. 
Mutavit  mentem  populus  levis  et  calet  uno  i  r 

Scribendi  studio ;  pueri  patresque  severi 
Fronde  comas  vincti  cenant  et  carmina  dictant.  no 

Ipse  ego,  qui  nullos  me  adfirmo  scribere  versus, 
Invenior  Parthis  mendacior,  et  prius  orto 
Sole  vigil  calamum  et  chartas  et  scrinia  posco. 
Navem  agere  ignarus  navis  timet,  habrotonum  aegro 
Non  audet  nisi  qui  didicit  dare,  (quod  niedicoruin  est          n5 
Promittunt  medici,  tractant  fabrilia  fabri ; 
Scribimus  indocti  doctique  poemata  passim. 


132  EPISTULARUM  [I. 

Hie  error  tamen  et  levis  haec  insania  quantas 

Virtutes  habeat,  sic  collige.     Vatis  avarus 

Non  temere  est  animus ;  versus  amat,  hoc  studet  unum ;    120 

Detrimenta,  fugas  servorum,  iricendia  ridet, 

Non  fraudein  socio  puerove  incogitat  ullam 

Pupillo ;  vivit  siliquis  et  pane  secundo ; 

Militiae  quamquam  piger  et  malus,  utilis  urbi, 

Si  das  hoc,  parvis  quoque  rebus  magna  iuvari.  125 

Os  tenerum  pueri  balbumque  poeta  figurat, 

/forquet  ab  obscaenis  iam  nunc  sermonibus  aurem,     , 

|  Mox  etiam  pectus  praeceptis  format  arnicis, 

j  Asperitatis  et  invidiae  corrector  et  irae, 

ijrlecte  facta  refert,  orientia  tempera  notis  130 

Instruit  exernplis,  inopem  solatur  et  aegruni. 

Castis  cum  pueris  ignara  puella  mariti 

Disceret  unde  preces,  vatem  ni  Musa  dedisset  ? 

Poscit  opem  chorus  et  praesentia  minima  sentit, 

Caelestis  implorat  aquas  docta  prece  blandus,  135 

Avertit  morbos,  metuenda  pericula  pellit, 

Impetrat  et  pacem  et  locupletem  f rugibus  annum. 

Carmine  di  superi  placantur,  carmine  Manes. 
Agricolae  prisci,  fortes  parvoque  beati, 

Condita  post  frumenta  levantes  tempore  festo  140 

Corpus  et  ipsum  animum  spe  finis  dura  ferentem, 

Cum  sociis  operum,  pueris  et  coniuge  fida, 

Tellurem  porco,  Silvanum  lacte  piabant, 

Floribus  et  vino  Genium  memorem  brevis  aevi. 

Fescennina  per  hunc  invecta  licentia  morem  145 

Versibus  alternis  opprobria  rustica  fudit, 

Libertasque  recurrentis  accepta  per  annos 

Lusit  amabiliter,  donee  iam  saevus  apertam 

In  rabiem  coepit  verti  iocus  et  per  honestas 

Ire  domos  impune  minax.     Doluere  cruento     ^  150 

Dente  lacessivit ;  fuit  intactis  quoque  cura 


I.]  LIBER   II.  133 

Condicione  super  cornmuni,  quin  etiam  lex 

Poenaque  lata,  malo  quae  nollet  carmine  quern  quam 

Describi.     Vertere  modum  formidine  fustis 

Ad  bene  dicendum  delectandumque  redact!.  155 

Graecia  capta  ferum  victorem  cepit,  et  artis 
Intulit  agresti  Latio.     Sic  horridus  ille 
Defluxit  numerus  Saturnius,  et  grave  virus 
Munditiae  pepulere ;  sed  in  longum  tamen  aevum 
Manserunt  hodieque  manent  vestigia  ruris.  160 

Seras  enim  Graecis  admovit  acumina  chartis, 
Et  post  Punica  bella  quietus  quaerere  coepit, 
Quid  Sophocles  et  Thespis  et  Aeschylos  utile  ferrent. 
Temptavit  quoque  rem  si  digne  vertere  posset, 
Et  placuit  sibi,  natura  sublimis  et  acer ;  165 

Nam  spirat  tragicum  satis  et  feliciter  audet, 
Sed  turpem  putat  inscite  metuitque  lituram. 
Creditur,  ex  medio  quia  res  arcessit,  habefe 
Sudoris  minimum,  sed  habet  comoedia  tanto 
Plus  oneris  quanto  veniae  minus.     Adspice  Plautus  170 

Quo  pacto  partis  tutetur  amantis  ephebi, 
Ut  patris  attenti,  lenonis  ut  insidiosi, 
Quantus  sit  Dossennus  edacibus  in  parasitis, 
Quam  non  adstricto  percurrat  pulpita  socco ; 
Gestit  enim  nummum  in  loculos  demittere,  post  hoc  175 

Securus  cadat  an  recto  stet  fabula  talo. 

Quern  tulit  ad  scaenam  ventoso  Gloria  curru, 
Exanimat  lentus  spectator,  sedulus  inflat ; 
Sic  leve  sic  parvum  est,  animum  quod  laudis  avarum 
Subruit  aut  reficit.     Valeat  res  ludicra,  si  me  180 

Palma  negata  macrum,  donata  reducit  opimum. 
Saepe  etiam  audacem  fugat  hoc  terretque  poetam, 
Quod  numero  plures,  virtute  et  honore  ininores, 
Indocti  stolidique  et  depugnare  parati, 
Si  discordet  eques,  media  inter  carmina  poscunt  185 


134  EPISTULARUM  [I. 

Aut  ursum  aut  pugiles ;  his  nam  plebecula  gaudet. 

Verum  equitis  quoque  iam  migravit  ab  aure  voluptas 

Omnis  ad  incertos  oculos  et  gaudia  vana. 

Quattuor  aut  pluris  aulaea  premuntur  in  horas, 

Dum  fugiunt  equitum  turmae  peditumque  catervae;  190 

Mox  trahitur  manibus  regum  fortuna  retortis, 

Esseda  festinant,  pilenta,  petorrita,  naves, 

Captivum  portatur  ebur,  captiva  Corinthus. 

Si  foret  in  terris,  rideret  Democritus,  sen 

Diversum  confusa  genus  panthera  camelo  195 

Sive  elephas  albus  volgi  converteret  ora; 

Spectaret  populum  ludis  attentius  ipsis, 

Ut  sibi  praebentem  nimio  spectacula  plura ; 

Scriptores  autem  nan-are  putaret  asello 

Fabellam  surdo.     Nam  quae  pervincere  voces  200 

Evaluere  sonum,  ref erunt  quern  nostra  theatra  ? 

Garganum  mugire  putes  nemus  aut  mare  Tuscum, 

Tanto  cum  strepitu  ludi  spectantur  et  artes 

Divitiaeque  peregrinae,  quibus  oblitus  actor 

Cum  stetit  in  scaena,  concurrit  dextera  laevae.  205 

'  Dixit  adhuc  aliquid  ? '     '  Nil  sane.'     '  Quid  placet  ergo  ? ' 

'  Lana  Tarentino  violas  imitata  veneno.' 

Ac  ne  forte  putes  me,  quae  facere  ipse  recusem, 
Cum  recte  tractent  alii,  laudare  maligne ; 
Ille  per  extentum  funem  mihi  posse  videtur  210 

Ire  poeta,  meum  qui  pectus  inaniter  angit, 
Inritat,  mulcet,  falsis  terroribus  implet, 
Ut  magus,  et  modo  me  Thebis,  modo  ponit  Athenis. 

Verum  age  et  his,  qui  se  lectori  credere  malunt 
Quam  spectatoris  fastidia  ferre  superbi,  215 

Curam  redde  brevem,  si  munus  Apolline  dignum 
Vis  complere  libris  et  vatibus  addere  calcar, 
Ut  studio  maiore  petant  Helicona  virentem. 
Multa  quidem  nobis  facimus  mala  saepe  poetae  — 


I.]  LIBER   II.  135 

Ut  vineta  egomet  caedam  mea  —  cum  tibi  libruin  220 

Sollicito  damns  aut  f  esso ;  cum  laedirnur,  unum 

Si  quis  amicorum  est  ausus  reprehendere  versum ; 

Cum  loca  iam  recitata  revolvimus  inrevocati; 

Cum  lamentamur,  non  apparere  labores 

Nostros  et  tenui  deducta  poemata  filo ;  225 

Cum  speramus  eo  rem  -venturam,  ut  simul  atque 

Carmina  rescieris  nos  fingere,  commodus  ultro 

Arcessas  et  egere  vetes  et  scribere  cogas. 

Sed  tamen  est  operae  pretium  cognoscere,  qualis 
Aedituos  habeat  belli  spectata  domique  230 

Virtus,  indigno  non  committenda  poetae. 
Gratus  Alexandro  regi  Magno  fuit  ille 
Choerilus,  incultis  qui  versibus  et  male  natis 
Rettulit  acceptos,  regale  nomisma,  Philippos. 
Sed  veluti  tractata  notam  labemque  remittunt  235 

Atramenta,  fere  scriptores  carmine  foedo 
Splendida  facta  linunt.     Idem  rex  ille,  poema 
Qui  tarn  ridicnilum  tarn  care  prodigus  emit, 
Edicto  vetuit,  ne  quis  se  praeter  Apellen 
Pingeret,  aut  alius  Lysippo  duceret  aera  240 

Fortis  Alexandri  voltum  simulantia.     Quod  si 
Indicium  subtile  videndis  artibus  illud 
Ad  libros  et  ad  haec  Musarum  dona  vocares, 
Boeotum  in  crasso  iurares  aere  natum. 

At  neque  dedecorant  tua  de  se  iudicia  atque  245 

Munera  quae  multa  dantis  cum  laude  tulerunt 
Dilecti  tibi  Vergilius  Variusque  poetae, 
Nee  magis  expressi  voltus  per  ae'nea  signa, 
Quam  per  vatis  opus  mores  animique  virorum 
Clarorum  adparent. 

Nee  sermones  ego  mallem  250 

Repentis  per  humum  quam  res  componere  gestas 
Terrarumque  situs  et  flumina  dicere  et  arces 


136  EPISTULARUM  [II. 

Montibus  impositas  et  barbara  regna,  tuisque 

Auspiciis  totum  confecta  duella  per  orbem, 

Claustraque  custodem  pacis  cohibentia  lanum,  255 

Et  formidatam  Parthis  te  principe  Eoniam, 

Si  quantum  cuperem  possem  quoque  ;  sed  neque  parvum 

Carmen  maiestas  recipit  tua,  nee  meus  audet 

Bern  temptare  pudor  quam  vires  ferre  recusent. 

Sedulitas  autem  stulte  queni  diligit,  urget ;  260 

Praecipue  cum  se  numeris  commendat  et  arte : 

Discit  enim  citius  meminitque  libentius  illud 

Quod  quis  deridet,  quam  quod  probat  et  veneratur. 

Nil  moror  officium  quod  me  gravat,  ac  neque  ficto 

In  peius  voltu  proponi  cereus  usquam  265 

Nee  prave  factis  decorari  versibus  opto, 

Ne  rubeam  pingui  donatus  munere  et  una 

Cum  scriptore  meo  capsa  porrectus  operta 

Deferar  in  vicum  vendentem  tus  et  odores 

Et  piper  et  quicquid  chartis  amicitur  ineptis.  270 


II. 
A  RENUNCIATION   OF  LYRIC   POETRY. 

1.  Occasion  of  the  Epistle  :    In  this  letter  to  Julius  Floras,  to 
whom  i.  3  is  also  addressed,  Horace  expresses  at  greater  length  the 
same  general  sentiments  as  in  i.  1.     He  intends  to  devote  himself  to 
philosophy  and  to  write  only  in  the  field  represented  by  the  Sermones 
and  Epistulae. 

2.  Outline: 

1.  Horace  reminds  his  friend,  that  while  he  promised  to  write  to 

him,  he  expressly  said  that  he  was  not  a  good  correspon- 
dent. He  is  therefore  no  more  liable  to  blame  than  a 
slave-dealer  would  be,  who  had  sold  a  slave  with  the 
admission  that  he  had  once  played  truant,  1-24  ; 

2.  He  accounts  for  his  failure  to  send  Florus  some  verses  by 

saying  that  he  has  renounced  poetry : 


II.]  LIBER   II.  137 

a)  He  no  longer  feels  the  necessity  of  writing  verse.    The  story 

of  the  veteran  of  Lucullus,  24-54  ; 

b)  He  is  too  old  for  such  youthful  folly,  55-57  ; 

c)  He  cannot  please  everybody  ;  his  readers  are  like  guests  at 

a  banquet,  who  all  call  for  something  different,  58-64  ; 

d)  It  is  impossible  to  write  amid  the  distractions  of  the  city  : 

1)  He  has  many  visits  to  pay  and  duties  to  attend  to 

in  widely  separated  parts  of  the  town,  65-70 ; 

2)  The  noises  and  dangers  in  the  streets  prevent  quiet 

thought,  70-76  ; 

3)  Poets  need  seclusion.     Even  in  quiet  Athens  one 

cannot  always  write  acceptably ;   how  much  less 
in  Rome,  77-86  : 

e)  To  succeed  one  must  form  an  alliance  for  mutual  admira- 

tion, 87-101  ; 
/)  Careful  and  conscientious  work  is  not  appreciated,  102- 

125; 
<7)  To  write  poetry  in  such  times  one  would  need  to  be  blind 

to  his  surroundings,  like  the  madman  of  Argos,  126-140  ; 
3.    Horace  therefore  proposes  to  devote  himself  to  philosophy,  as 

a  more  profitable  study  and  one  more  appropriate  to  his 

time  of  life,  141-145  ; 
a)  If  one  were  suffering  from  disease,  he  would  consult  a 

physician.     One  ought  to  be  equally  anxious  to  be  cured 

of  false  views  of  life,  146-154 ; 
6)  Riches  cannot  make  a  man  wise  or  permanently  happy. 

Death  finally  makes  all  men  equal,  155-179  ; 

c)  True  happiness  consists  in  following  the  golden  mean, 

avoiding  both  avarice  and  extravagance,  and  in  indif- 
ference to  material  blessings,  180-204  ; 

d)  It  is  not  enough  to  be  free  from  one  fault ;  one  must  re- 

nounce them  all.  And  when  a  man  has  sufficiently 
enjoyed  life,  he  must  be  ready  to  withdraw  from  it  like  a 
satisfied  guest,  205-216. 

3.   Time  :  Between  20  and  17  B.C. 

Flore,  bono  claroque  fidelis  amice  Neroni, 
Si  quis  forte  velit  puerum  tibi  vendere  natum 
Tibure  vel  Gabiis,  et  tecum  sic  agat :  '  Hie  et 
Candidas  et  talos  a  vertice  pulcher  ad  imos 
Fiet  eritque  tuus  nummorum  milibus  octo,  5 


138  EPISTULAKUM  [II. 

Verna  mini  sterns  ad  nutus  aptus  erilis 

Litterulis  Graecis  imbutus,  idoneus  arti 

Cuilibet;argilla  quid  vis  iniitaberis  uda; 

Quin  etiam  canet  indoctum  sed  dulce  bibenti. 

Multa  fidem  promissa  levant,  ubi  plenius  aequo  10 

Laudat  venalis  qui  volt  extrudere  merces. 

Res  urget  me  nulla ;  meo  sum  pauper  in  aere. 

Nemo  hoc  mangonum  faceret  tibi ;  non  temere  a  me 

Quivis  ferret  idem.     Semel  hie  cessavit  et,  ut  fit, 

In  scalis  latuit  metuens  pendentis  habenae ; '  15 

Des  nummos,  excepta  nihil  te  si  f uga  laedat ; 

Ille  ferat  pretium  poenae  securus  opinor. 

Prudens  emisti  vitiosum,  dicta  tibi  est  lex; 

Insequeris  tamen  hunc  et  lite  moraris  iniqua  ? 

Dixi  me  pigrum  proficiscenti  tibi,  dixi    —*  20 

Talibus  officiis  prope  mancum,  ne  mea  saevus 

lurgares  ad  te  quod  epistula  nulla  rediret. 

Quid  turn  profeci,  mecum  facientia  iura 

Si  tamen  attemptas  ? 

Quereris  super  hoc  etiam,  quod 

Exspectata  tibi  non  mittam  carmina  mendax.  25 

Luculli  miles  collecta  viatica  multis 
Aerumnis,  lassus  dum  noctu  stertit,  ad  assem 
Perdiderat ;  post  hoc  vemens  lupus  et  sibi  et  hosti 
Iratus  pariter,  ieiunis  dentibus  acer, 

Praesidium  regale  loco  deiecit,  ut  aiunt,  30 

Summe  munito  et  multarum  divite  rerum. 
Clarus  ob  id  factum,  donis  ornatur  honestis, 
Accipit  et  bis  dena  super  sestertia  minimum. 
Forte  sub  hoc  tempus  castellum  evertere  praetor 
ISTescio  quod  cupiens,  hortari  coepit  eundem  35 

Verbis,  quae  timido  quoque  possent  addere  mentem 
'  I  bone,  quo  virtus  tua  te  vocat,  i  pede  fausto, 
Grandia  laturus  meritorum  praemia.     Quid  stas  ? ' 


II.]  LIBER   II.  139 

Post  haec  ille  catus,  quantuinvis  rusticus  '  Ibit, 

Ibit  eo,  quo  vis,  qui  zoiiam  perdidit '  inquit.  40 

K/omae  nutriri  mihi  contigit  atque  doceri, 
Iratus  Grais  quantum  nocuisset  Achilles. 
Adiecere  bonae  paulo  plus  artis  Athenae, 
Scilicet  ut  vellem  curvo  dinoscere  rectum 
Atque  inter  silvas  Academi  qiiaererp,  verum.    f ',_  45 

Dura  sed  emovere  loco  me  tempora  grato, 
Civilisque  rudem  belli  tulit  aestus  in  arma, 
Caesaris  Augusti  non  responsura  lacertis. 
Unde  simul  primum  me  dimisere  Philippi, 
Decisis  humilem  pinnis  inopemque  paterni  50 

Et  laris  et  fundi  Paupertas  iinpulit,  audax 
Ut  versus  facerem.     Sed  quod  non  desit  habentem 
Quae  poterunt  umquam  satis  expurgare  cicutae, 
Ni  melius  dormire  putem  quam  scribere  versus  ? 

Singula  de  nobis  anni  praedantur  euntes  :  55 

Eripuere  iocos,  Venerem,  convivia,  ludum  ; 
Tendunt  extorquere  poemata ;  quid  f aciam  vis  ? 

Denique  non  omnes  eadem  mirantur  amantque : 
Carmine  tu  gaudes,  hie  delectatur  iambis, 
Ille  Bioneis  sermonibus  et  sale  nigro.  60 

Tres  mihi  convivae  prope  dissentire  videntur, 
Poscentes  vario  multum  diversa  palato. 
Quid  dem  ?     Quid  non  dem  ?     Renuis  tu,  quod  iubet  alter ; 
Quod  petis,  id  sane  est  invisum  acidumque  duobus. 

Praeter  cetera  me  Romaene  poemata  censes  65 

Scribere  posse  inter  tot  curas  totque  labores  ? 
Hie  sponsum  vocat,  hie  auditum  scripta,  relictis 
Omnibus  officiis ;  cubat  hie  in  colle  Quirini, 
Hie  extreme  in  Aventino,  visendus  uterque : 
Intervalla  vides  humane  commoda.     'Verum  70 

Purae  sunt  plateae,  nihil  ut  meditantibus  obstet/ 
Festinat  calidus  mulis  gerulisque  redemptor, 


140  EPISTULARUM  [II. 

Torquet  nunc  lapidem,  nunc  ingens  machina  tignum, 

Tristia  robustis  luctantur  fun  era  plaustris, 

Hac  rabiosa  fugit  can  is,  liac  lutulenta  ruit  sus :  75 

I  nunc  et  versus  tecum  ineditare  canoros. 

Scriptorum  chorus  omnis  amat  nemus  et  fugit  urbem, 

Rite  cliens  Bacchi  somno  gaudentis  et  umbra ; 

Tu  me  inter  strepitus  nocturnos  atque  diurnos 

Vis  canere  et  contracta  sequi  vestigia  vatum  ?  80 

Ingenium,  sibi  quod  vacuas  desumpsit  Athenas 

Et  studiis  annos  septem  dedit  insenuitque 

Libris  et  curis,  statua  taciturnius  exit 

Plerumque  et  risu  populum  quatit :  hie  ego  rerum 

Fluctibus  in  mediis  et  tempestatibus  urbis  85 

Verba  lyrae  motura  sonum  conectere  digner  ? 

^Frater  erat  Romae  consulti  rhetor,  ut  alter 

Alterius  sermone  meros  audiret  honores, 

Gracchus  ut  hie  illi,  foret  huic  ut  Mucius  ille. 

Qui  minus  argutos  vexat  furor  iste  poetas  ?  90 

Carmina  conipono,  hie  elegos.     Mirabile  visu 

Caelatumque  novem  Musis  opus !     Adspice  primum, 

Quanto  cum  fastu,  quanto  rnolimine  circum 

Spectemus  vacuam  Romanis  vatibus  aedem ; 

Mox  etiam,  si  forte  vacas,  sequere  et  procul  audi,  95 

Quid  ferat  et  quare  sibi  nectat  uterque  coronam. 

Caedimur  et  totidem  plagis  consumimus  hostem 

Lento  Samnites  ad  lumina  prima  duello. 

Discedo  Alcaeus  puncto  illius ;  ille  meo  quis  ? 

Quis  nisi  Callimachus  ?     Si  plus  adposcere  visus,  100 

Fit  Mimnermus  et  optivo  cognomine  crescit.  ^ 

Multa  fero,  ut  placem  genus  irritabile  vatum, 
Cum  scribo  et  supplex  populi  suffragia  capto ; 
Idem,  finitis  studiis  et  mente  recepta, 

Obturem  patulas  impune  legentibus  auris.  105 

Ridentur  mala  qui  componunt  carmina ;  veruni 


II.]  LIBER   II.  141 

Gaudent  scribentes  et  se  venerantur  et  ultro, 

Si  taceas,  laudant  quicquid  scripsere  beati. 

At  qui  legitimum  cupiet  fecisse  poema, 

Cum  tabulis  animum  censoris  sunset  honesti.    *  110 

Audebit,  quaecunique  parum  splendoris  habebunt 

Et  sine  pondere  erunt  et  honore  indigna  ferentur, 

Verba  movere  loco,  quamvis  invita  recedant 

Et  versentur  adhuc  intra  penetralia  Vestae;    \«  e«~^»  -v-c 

Obscurata  din  populo  bonus  eruet  atque  115 

Proferet  in  lucem  speciosa  vocabula  rerum, 

Quae  priscis  memorata  Catonibus  atque  Cethegis 

Nunc  situs  informis  premit  et  deserta  vetustas ; 

Adsciscet  nova,  quae  genitor  produxerit  usus. 

Veheniens  et  liquidus  puroque  simillimus  amni  120 

Fundet  opes  Latiumque  beabit  divite  lingua ; 

Luxuriantia  comp°e^cet,  minis  aspera  sano 

Levabit  cultu,  virtute  carentia  toilet, 

Ludentis  speciem  dabit  et  torquebitur,  ut  qui     c</^<o 

Nunc  Satyrum,  nunc  agrestem  Cyclopa  movetur.  125 

Praetulerim  scriptor  delirus  inersque  videri, 
Dum  niea  delectent  mala  me  vel  denique  fallant, 
Quaui  sapere  et  ringi  ?     Fuit  baud  ignobilis  Argis, 
Qui  se  credebat  miros  audire  tragoedos 
In  vacuo  laetus  sessor  plausorque  theatro,  130 

Cetera  qui  vitae  servaret  munia  recto 
More,  bonus  sane  vicinus,  arnabilis  hospes, 
Comis  in  uxorem,  posset  qui  ignoscere  servis 
Et  signo  laeso  non  insanire  lagoenae,     - <^t  n«$ 
Posset  qui  rupem  et  puteum  vitare  patentem.  135 

Hie  ubi  cognatorum  opibus  curisque  refectus 
Expulit  elleboro  morbum  bilemque  rneraco, 
Et  redit  ad  sese  '  Pol,  me  occidistis,  amici, 
Non  servastis '  ait,  '  cui  sic  extorta  voluptas 
Et  dernptus  per  vim  mentis  gratissimus  error.'  140 


142  EPISTULARUM  [II. 

Nimiruni  sapere  est  abiectis  utile  nugis, 
Et  tempestivum  pueris  concedere  ludum, 
Ac  non  verba  sequi  fidibus  modulanda  Latinis,    C 
Sed  verae  numerosque  modosque  ediscere  vitae. 
Quocirca  mecum  loquor  haec  tacitusque  recorder :  145 

Si  tibi  nulla  sitim  fmir,et  copia  lymphae,  - 
Narrares  medicis ;  quod,  quanto  plura  parasti, 
Tanto  plura  cupis,  nulline  faterier  audes  ? 
Si  volnus  tibi  mon strata  radice  vel  herba 
Non  fieret  levins,  fugeres  radice  vel  herba  150 

Proficiente  nihil  curarier :  audieras,  cui 
Rein  di  donarent,  illi  decedere  pravam 
Stultitiam ;  et,  cum  sis  nihilo  sapientior,  ex  quo 

Plenior  es,  tamen  uteris  monitoribus  isdem  t    ^^**  HO« 

.  .  *^ 

At  si  divitiae  prudeutem  reddere  possent, 

Si  cupidum  timidumque  minus  te,  nempe  ruberes, 
Viveret  in  terris  te  si  quis  avarior  uno. 
Si  proprium  est,  quod  quis  libra  mercatus  et  aere  est, 
Quaedam,  si  credis  consultis,  mancipat  usus  ; 
Qui  te  pascit  ager,  tuus  est,  et  vilicus  Orbi, 
Cum  segetes  occat  tibi  mox  frumenta  daturas, 
Te  dominum  sentit.     Das  nummos,  accipis  uvam, 
Pullos,  ova,  cadiirrTtemeti.     Nempe  modo  isto 
Paulatirn  inercaris  agrum,  fortasse  trecentis 
;   Aut  etiam  supra  nummorum  milibus  emptum. 
\Quid  refert,  vivas  numerate  nuper  an  olim? 
Emptor  Aricini  quondam  Veientis  et  arvi 
Emptum  cenat  holus,  quamvis  aliter  putat ;  emptis 
Sub  noctem  gelidam  lignis  calefactat  aenum  ; 
Sed  vocat  usque  suum,  qua  populus  adsita  certis 
Lirnitibus  vicina  ref ugit  iurgia ;  tamquam 
Sit  proprium  quicquam,  puncto  quod  mobilis  horae 
Nunc  prece,  nunc  pretio,  nunc  vi,  nunc  morte  suprema 
Perniutet  dominos  et  cedat  in  altera  iura. 


II.]  LIBER   II.  143 

Sic  quia  perpetuns  nulli  datur  usus,  et  heres  .   175 

Heredem  alterius  velut  unda  supervenit  undam, 

Quid  vici  prosunt  aut  HUfreaV5*    Quidve  Calabris        (  \^jj^\M 

Saltibus  adiecti  Lucani,  si  metit  Orcus 

Grandia  cum  parvis,  non  exorabilis  auro  ? 

Gemmas,  marmor,  ebur,  Tyrrhena  sigilla,  tabellas,         180 
Argentum,  vestes  Gaetulo  murice  tinctas 
Sunt  qui  non  habeant,  est  qui  non  curat  habere. 
Cur  alter  fratrum  cessare  et  ludere  et  ungiii 
Praeferat  Herodis  palmetis  pinguibus,  alter 
Dives  et  importunus  ad  umbram  lucis  ab  ortu  185 

Silvestrem  flammis  et  ferro  mitiget  agrura, 
Scit  Genius,  natale  comes  qui  temperat  astrum, 
Naturae  deus  humanae,  mortalis  in  unuin 
Quodque  caput,  voltu  mutabilis,  albus  et  ater. 
Utar  et  ex  modico  quantum  res  poscet  acervo  190 

Tollam  nee  metuam,  quid  de  me  iudicet  heres, 
Quod  non  plura  datis  invenerit ;  et  tamen  idem 
Scire  volam,  quantum  simplex  hilarisque  nepoti 
Discrepet  et  quantum  discordet  parcus  avaro. 
Distat  enim,  spargas  tua  prodigus,  an  neque  sumptum       195 
Invitus  facias  neque  plura  parare  labores, 
Ac  potius,  puer  ut  festis  Quinquatribus  olim, 
Exiguo  gratoque  fruaris  tempore  raptim. 
Pauperies  immunda  tamen  procul  absit;  ego  utrum     ^§dt.u 
Nave  fera  magna  an  parva,  ferar  unus  et  idem.  200 

Non  agimur  tumidis  velis  Aquilone  secundo : 
Non  tamen  adversis  aetatem  ducimus  Austris, 
Viribus,  ingenio,  specie,  virtute,  loco,  re 
Extremi  primorum,  extremis  usque  priores.         f  j  • 

Non  es  avarus  :  abi.     Quid  ?     Cetera  iam  simul  isto      205 
Cum  vitio  fugere  ?     Caret  tibi  pectus  inani 
Ambitione  ?     Caret  mortis  formidine  et  ira  ? 

»\  U  '^i  ^  vi     - 

Somnia,  terrores  magicos,  miracula,  sagas, 


144  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

Nocturnes  lemures  portentaque  Thessala  rides  ? 

Natalis  grate  numeras  ?  ignoscis  amicis  ?  210 

Lenior  et  melior  fis  accedente  senecta  ? 

Quid  te  exempta  iuvat  spinis  de  pluribus  una  ? 

Vivere  si  recte  nescis,  decede  peritis. 

Lusisti  satis,  edisti  satis  atque  bibisti : 
Tempus  abire  tibi  est,  ne  potum  largius  aequo  215 

Rideat  et  pulset  lasciva  decentius  aetas. 

III. 
ON  THE   ART   OF  POETRY.i 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE  PISONES. 
1.   Outline: 

I.    General  rules  for  poetic  composition : 

1.  The  subject  matter  : 

a)  The  work  must  have  unity,  and  must  not  combine  discord- 
ant elements,  1-13  ; 

6)  Unnecessary  digressions  must  not  be  introduced  merely  for 
decorative  effect,  14-23  ; 

2.  The  expression : 

a)  Must  be  uniform  in  tone ;  care  must  be  taken  in  avoiding 

one  extreme  not  to  go  to  the  other,  24-31 ; 
&)  All  parts  of  the  poem  must  be  equally  finished,  32-37  ; 
c)  The  arrangement  and  choice  of  words : 

1)  Both  depend  on  choosing  a  subject  within  one's 

powers,  38-41 ; 

2)  A  good  arrangement  consists  in  saying  each  thing 

in  its  proper  place,  42-45  ; 

3)  To  secure  fitting  language : 

(a)  New  words  should  be  employed  only  when  it  is 
necessary,  and  their  meaning  should  be  made 
clear  by  the  arrangement  of  the  context,  46-51 ; 

(6)  They  may  best  be  drawn  from  Greek  sources. 
This  license,  allowed  the  ancient  poets,  will 
not  be  refused  to  the  moderns,  52-59 ; 

1  This  Epistle  was  at  an  early  period,  but  not  by  Horace,  given  the 
special  title  De  Arte  Poetica  Liber,  and  is  usually  so  cited. 


III.]  LIBER  II.  145 

(c)  Language  is  a  living  thing,  and  words  are  born 
and  die.  The  language  of  one  generation 
must  give  place  to  that  of  another,  60-72  ; 

3.  The  metre  must  be  chosen  to  suit  the  subject.     Each  kind  of 

composition  has  its  appropriate  verse-form,  73-85 ; 

4.  The  style,  too,  must  suit  the  subject : 

a)  Broad  general  distinctions  must  be  observed;  the  tragic 
style  must  differ  from  the  comic,  86-92  ; 

&)  In  the  same  work  the  style  must  be  varied  to  suit  different 
conditions,  93-98  ; 

c)  Since  a  poem  must  appeal  to  the  emotions  as  well  as  to 
the  intellect,  the  language  of  the  characters  must  be 
suited  to  their  circumstances.  Age,  sex,  and  nationality 
must  be  duly  regarded,  99-118  ; 

1)  The  poet  must  follow  tradition  in  the  representation 

of  stock  characters.    If  he  invents  new  ones,  they 
must  be  consistent  throughout,  119-127  ; 

2)  On  the  whole  it  is  better  to  use  old  material,  but 

it  should  be  handled  in  an  original  way,  128- 
135; 

3)  For  the  sake  of  unity,  and  to  keep  up  the  interest, 

the  introduction  must  be  simple  and  unpreten- 
tious.    Homer  is  a  good  model,  136-152  ; 
II.    Special  rules  for  dramatic  poetry  : 

1.  The  characters  must  be  carefully  drawn.     Different  periods  of 

life  must  be  represented  with  their  proper  characteristics 
and  impulses,  153-178  ; 

2.  The  dramatic  proprieties  must  be  observed.     Actions  not  fit 

for  representation  should  merely  be  described,  179-188  ; 

3.  The  number  of    actors,   the  use  of    the  deus  ex  machina, 

and  the  division  into  acts  must  conform  to  tradition, 
189-192  ; 

4.  The  chorus  must  be  closely  connected  with  the  action  of  the 

play  ;  it  must  favor  the  righteous  cause ;  it  must  be  the 
hero's  confidant,  193-201  ; 

5.  The  music  must  be  appropriate  and  subordinate  to  the  dramatic 

action.    Its  present  development  is  an  extravagant  one, 
202-219. 

6.  The  purpose  and  nature  of  the  satyr  drama  must  be  remem- 

bered : 

a)  Its  action  must  not  fall  to  the  level  of  extravaganza,  but 
must  preserve  something  of  the  dignity  of  tragedy, 
220-233 ; 


146  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

&)  Its  language,  too,  should  be  carefully  chosen.     It  must 

differ  from  that  of  tragedy,  without  descending  to-that  of 

the  streets,  234-250  ; 
7.   The  versification  must  be  carefully  studied : 

a)  The  senarius  is  a  skilful  combination  of  iambs  and  spondees, 

and  must  be  handled  properly,  251-258  ; 
&)  The  early  Roman  poets  were  careless,  because  the  ears  of 

their  audience  were  dull,  258-264  ; 
c)  Greek  models  should  be  studied  and  followed,  265-274  ; 

1)  The  Greeks  invented  and  developed  tragedy  ;  and 

also  the  old  comedy,  which  came  to  an  end  through 
excessive  freedom  of  speech,  275-284  ; 

2)  Our  forefathers  followed  them  and  also  invented 

new  dramas  based  on  Roman  life  ;    only  want 
of   care  prevented  them  from  surpassing  their 
teachers,  285-294  ; 
III.    The  poet  and  his  work  :    Some  people  think  that  mere  externals 

make  a  poet.     Hence  Horace  prefers  to  exercise  the  function 

of  critic,  295-308  : 

1.  The  material : 

a)  The  first  essential  is  true  wisdom,  and  a  knowledge  of 

human  character,  309-322  ; 
6)  We  must  follow  the  Greeks  with  their  high  ideals.     Roman 

life  is  too  practical,  323-332  ; 

2.  Its  proper  presentation : 

a)  The  poet  must  please  or  teach,  or  both,  333-334  : 

1)  The  didactic  parts  should  be  brief,  335-337  ; 

2)  The  parts  designed  to  please  should  be  credible, 

338-340 ; 

3)  A  combination  of  amusement  with  instruction  is 

the  best,  341-346  ; 

6)  The  critic  should  use  judgment.  He  should  view  the  work 
as  a  whole  and  overlook  slight  defects.  The  same  faults 
must  not  be  often  repeated,  347-365  ; 

3.  The  poet's  ideals  (addressed  to  the  elder  Piso) : 

a)  The  poet  must  have  gifts  which  rise  above  the  ordinary, 

366-373  ; 
6)  It  is  better  not  to  write  at  all  than  to  fall  short  of  the 

highest  standard,  374-384 ; 

c)  The  poet  should  subject  his  work  to  competent  criticism, 

385-390 ; 

d)  He  should  remember  that  poetry  is  of  divine  origin,  and 

played  an  important  part  in  civilizing  the  race,  391-399  ; 


III.]  LIBER   II.  147 

e)  Later  it  roused  to  war,  and  voiced  the  oracles,  400-407  ; 
/)  A  combination  of  natural  ability  and  hard  work  make  the 

poet,  408-418  ; 
gr)  He  must  seek  impartial  criticism  from  those  capable  of 

expressing  a  frank  opinion,  419-452  ; 
h)  A  man  who  refuses  to  submit  his  work  to  criticism,  and 

regards  himself  as  divine,  is  a  dangerous  madman,  who 

should  be  shunned,  453-476. 

2.   Time:  16  B.C. 


Humano  capiti  cervicem  pictor  equinam 
lungere  si  velit  et  varias  inducere  plumas 
Undique  conlatis  membris,  ut  turpiter  atrum 
DeSinat  in  piscem  mulier  formosa  superne; 
Spectatum  admissi  risum  teneatis,  araici  ?  5 

Credite,  Pisones,  isti  tabulae  fore  librum 
Persimilem,  cuius,  velut  aegri  somnia,  vanae 
Fingentur  species,  ut  nee  pes  nee  caput  uni 
Reddatur  formae.     '  Pictoribus  atque  poetis 
Quidlibet  audendi  semper  fuit  aequa  potestas.'  10 

Scimus,  et  hanc  veniam  petimusque  damusque  vicissim ; 
Sed  non  ut  placidis  coeant  immitia,  non  ut 
Serpentes  avibus  geminentur,  tigribus  agni. 

Inceptis  gravibus  plerumque  et  magna  professis 
Purpureus,  late  qui  splendeat,  unus  et  alter  15 

Adsuitur  pannus,  cum  lucus  et  ara  Dianae 
Et  properantis  aquae  per  amoenos  ambitus  agros 
Aut  flumen  Rhenum  aut  pluvius  describitur  arcus. 
Sed  nunc  non  erat  his  locus.     Et  fortasse  cupressum. 
Scis  simulare  :  quid  hoc,  si  fractis  enatat  exspes-  20 

Navibus,  dato  aere  qui  pingitur  ?     Amphora  coepit 
Institui ;  currente  rota  cur  urceus  exit  ? 
Denique  sit  quidvis,  simplex  dumtaxat  et  unum. 

Maxima  pars  vatum,  pater  et  iuvenes  patre  digni, 
Decipimur  specie  recti.     Brevis  esse  laboro,  25 


148  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

Obscurus  fio ;  sectantem  levia  nervi 

Deficiunt  animique ;  professus  grandia  turget ; 

Serpit  humi  tutus  nimium  tiniidusque  procellae ; 

Qui  variare  cupit  rem  prodigialiter  unam, 

Delphinum  silvis  adpingit,  fluctibus  aprum.  30 

In  vitium  ducit  culpae  fuga,  si  caret  arte. 

Aemilium  circa  ludum  faber  imus  et  unguis 
Exprimet  et  mollis  imitabitur  aere  capillos, 
Infelix  operis  summa,  quia  ponere  totuin 
Nesciet.     Hunc  ego  me,  si  quid  componere  curem,  35 

Non  magis  esse  velim,  quam  naso  vivere  pravo 
Spectanduin  nigris  oculis  nigroque  capillo. 

Sumite  materiam  vestris,  qui  scribitis,  aequam 
Viribus  et  versate  diu  quid  ferre  recusent, 
Quid  valeant  umeri.     Cui  lecta  potenter  erit  res,  40 

Nee  facundia  deseret  hunc  nee  lucidus  ordo. 

Ordinis  haec  virtus  erit  et  Venus,  aut  ego  fallor, 
Ut  iam  nunc  dicat  iam  nunc  debentia  dici, 
Pleraque  differat  et  praeseiis  in  tempus  omittat ; 
Hoc  amet,  hoc  spernat  promissi  carminis  auctor.  45 

In  verbis  etiam  tennis  cautusque  serendis 
Dixeris  egregie,  notum  si  callida  verbum 
Keddiderit  iunctura  novum.     Si  forte  necesse  est 
Indiciis  monstrare  recentibus  abdita  rerum, 
Fingere  cinctutis  non  exaudita  Cethegis  50 

Continget  dabiturque  licentia  sumpta  pudenter. 

Et  nova  fictaque  nuper  habebunt  verba  fideiu,  si 
Graeco  fonte  cadent  parce  detorta.     Quid  autem 
Caecilio  Plautoque  dabit  Romanus,  ademptuni 
Vergilio  Varioque  ?     Ego  cur,  adquirere  pauca  55 

Si  possum,  invideor,  cum  lingua  Catonis  et  Enni 
Sermonem  patrium  ditaverit  et  nova  rerum 
Nomina  protulerit  ?     Licuit  semperque  licebit 
Signatum  praesente  nota  producere  nomen. 


III.]  LIBER   II.  149 

Ut  silvae  foliis  pronos  nmtantur  in  annos,  60 

Prima  cadunt,  ita  verboram  vetus  interit  aetas, 
Et  iuvenum  ritu  florent  modo  nata  vigentque. 
Debemur  morti  nos  nostraque.     Sive  receptus 
Terra  Neptunus  classes  Aquilonibus  arcet, 
Regis  opus,  sterilisve  pains  dm  aptaque  remis  65 

Vicinas  urbes  alit  et  grave  sentit  aratrum, 
Sen  cursum  mutavit  iniquum  frugibus  amnis, 
Doctus  iter  melius;  mortalia  facta  peribunt, 
Nedum  sermonum  stet  honos  et  gratia  vivax. 
Multa  renascentur  quae  iain  cecidere,  cadentque  70 

Quae  nunc  sunt  in  honore  vocabula,  si  volet  usus, 
Quern  penes  arbitrium  est  et  ius  et  nornia  loquendi. 

Res  gestae  regumque  ducumque  et  tristia  bella 
Quo  scribi  possent  numero,  monstravit  Homerus. 
Versibus  im  par  iter  iunctis  querimonia  primum,  75 

Post  etiani  inclusa  est  voti  sententia  compos ; 
Quis  tamen  exiguos  elegos  emiserit  auctor, 
Grammatici  certant  et  adhuc  sub  iudice  lis  est. 
Archilochum  proprio  rabies  armavit  iambo : 
Hunc  socci  cepere  pedem  grandesque  coturni,  80 

Alternis  aptuni  sennonibus  et  popularis 
Vincentein  strepitus  et  natum  rebus  agendis. 
Musa  dedit  fidibus  divos  puerosque  deorum 
Et  pugilem  victorem  et  equura  certamine  primum 
Et  iuvenum  curas  et  libera  vina  referre.  85 

Descriptas  servare  vices  operumque  colores, 
Cur  ego  si  nequeo  ignoroque,  poeta  salutor  ? 
Cur  nescire  pudens  prave  quam  discere  inalo  ? 

Versibus  exponi  tragicis  res  comica  non  volt ; 
Indignatur  item  privatis  ac  prope  socco  90 

Dignis  carminibus  narrari  cena  Thyestae. 
Singula  quaeque  locum  teneant  sortita  decentem. 
Interdum  tamen  et  vocem  comoedia  tollit, 


150  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

Iratusque  Chremes  tumido  delitigat  ore ; 

Et  tragicus  plerumque  dolet  sermone  pedestri  95 

Telephus  et  Peleus,  cuni  pauper  et  exsul  uterque 

Proicit  ampullas  et  sesquipedalia  verba, 

Si  curat  cor  spectantis  tetigisse  querella. 

Non  satis  est  pulchra  esse  poemata ;  dulcia  sunto 
Et  quocmnque  volent  animum  auditoris  agunto.  100 

Ut  ridentibus  arrident,  ita  flentibus  adsunt 
Humani  voltus :  si  vis  me  flere,  dolendum  est 
Primum  ipsi  tibi :  tune  tua  me  infortunia  laedent, 
Telephe  vel  Peleu ;  male  si  mandata  loqueris, 
Aut  dormitabo  aut  ridebo.     Tristia  maestum  105 

Voltum  verba  decent,  iratum  plena  minarum, 
Ludentem  lasciva,  severuin  seria  dictu. 
Format  enim  natura  prius  nos  intus  ad  omnem. 
Fortunarum  habitum ;  iuvat  aut  impellit  ad  iram, 
Aut  ad  humum  maerore  gravi  deducit  et  angit  j  110 

Post  effort  animi  motus  interprete  lingua. 
Si  dicentis  erunt  fortunis  absona  dicta, 
Romani  tollent  equites  peditesque  cachinnum. 
Intererit  multum  divusne  loquatur  an  heros, 
Maturusne  senex  an  adhuc  florente  iuventa  115 

Fervidus,  et  matrona  potens  an  sedula  nutrix, 
Mercatore  vagus  cultorne  virentis  agelli, 
Colchus  an  Assyrius,  Thebis  nutritus  an  Argis. 

Aut  famam  sequere  aut  sibi  convenientia  finge. 
Scriptor  honoratum  si  forte  reponis  Achillem,  120 

Impiger,  iracundus,  inexorabilis,  acer 
lura  neget  sibi  nata,  nihil  non  adroget  armis. 
Sit  Medea  ferox  invictaque,  flebilis  Ino, 
Perfidus  Ixion,  lo  vaga,  tristis  Orestes. 
Si  quid  inexpertum  scaenae  committis  et  audes  125 

Personam  formare  novam,  servetur  ad  imum, 
Qualis  ab  incepto  processerit,  et  sibi  coustet. 


III.]  LIBER   II.  151 

Difficile  est  proprie  communia  dicere ;  tuque 
Rectius  Iliacum  carmen  deducis  in  actus, 
Quam  si  proferres  ignota  indictaque  primus.  130 

Publica  materies  privati  iuris  erit,  si 
Non  circa  vilem  patulumque  moraberis  orbem, 
Nee  verbum  verbo  curabis  reddere  fidus 
Interpres,  nee  desilies  imitator  in  artum, 
Unde  pedem  proferre  pudor  vetet  aut  operis  lex.  135 

Nee  sic  incipies,  ut  scriptor  cyclicus  olini : 
'Fortunam  Priam i  cantabo  et  nobile  bellum.' 
Quid  diguum  tanto  feret  hie  promissor  hiatu  ? 
Parturient  moiites,  nascetur  ridiculus  mus. 
Quanto  rectius  hie,  qui  nil  molitur  inepte :  140 

'  Die  mini,  Musa,  virum,  captae  post  tempora  Troiae 
Qui  mores  hominum  multorum  vidit  et  urbes.' 
Non  fumum  ex  fulgore,  sed  ex  fumo  dare  lucein 
Cogitat,  ut  speciosa  dehinc  miracula  promat, 
Antiphaten  Seyllamque  et  cum  Cyclope  Charybdim ;         145 
Nee  reditum  Diomedis  ab  interitu  Meleagri, 
Nee  gemino  bellum  Troianum  orditur  ab  ovo ; 
Semper  ad  eventum  festinat  et  in  medias  res 
Non  secus  ac  notas  auditorem  rapit,  et  quae 
Desperat  tractata  nitescere  posse,  relinquit,  150 

Atque  ita  mentitur,  sic  veris  falsa  remiscet, 
Primo  ne  medium,  medio  ne  discrepet  imum. 

Tu  quid  ego  et  populus  mecum  desideret  audi. 
Si  plosoris  eges  aulaea  manentis  et  usque 
Sessuri,  donee  cantor  '  vos  plaudite '  dicat ;  155 

Aetatis  cuiusque  notandi  sunt  tibi  mores, 
Mobilibusque  decor^  naturis  dandus  et  annis. 
Reddere  qui  voces  iam  scit  puer  et  pede  certo 
Signat  humum,  gestit  paribus  conludere  et  iram 
Colligit  ac  ponit  temere  et  mutatur  in  horas.  160 

Imberbis  iuvenis  tandem  custode  remoto 


152  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

Gaudet  equis  canibusque  et  aprici  gramine  cainpi, 

Cereus  in  vitium  flecti,  monitoribus  asper, 

Utilium  tardus  provisor,  prodigus  aeris, 

Sublimis  cupidusque  et  amata  relinquere  pernix.  165 

Conversis  studiis  aetas  animusque  virilis 

Quaerit  opes  et  amicitias,  inservit  honori, 

Commisisse  cavet  quod  mox  mutare  laboret. 

Multa  senem  circuniveniunt  incommoda,  vel  quod 

Quaerit  et  inventis  miser  abstinet  ac  timet  uti,  170 

Vel  quod  res  omnis  timide  gelideque  ministrat, 

Dilator,  spe  longus,  iners,  avidusque  futuri, 

Difficilis,  querulus,  laudator  temporis  acti 

Se  puero,  castigator  censorque  minorum. 

Multa  ferunt  anni  venientes  commoda  secum,  175 

Multa  recedentes  adimunt.     Ne  forte  seniles 

Mandentur  iuveni  partes  pueroque  viriles : 

Semper  in  adiunctis  aevoque  morabimur  aptis. 

Aut  agitur  res  in  scaenis  aut  acta  refertur. 
Segnius  inritant  animos  demissa  per  aurem  180 

Quam  quae  sunt  oculis  subiecta  fidelibus  et  quae 
Ipse  sibi  tradit  spectator ;  non  tamen  intus 
Digna  geri  promes  in  scaenam  multaque  tolles 
Ex  oculis,  quae  mox  narret  facundia  praesens. 
Ne  pueros  coram  populo  Medea  trucidet,  185 

Aut  humana  palam  coquat  exta  nefarius  Atreus, 
Aut  in  avem  Procne  vertatur,  Cadmus  in  anguem. 
Quodcumque  ostendis  milii  sic,  incredulus  odi. 

Neve  minor  neu  sit  quinto  productior  actu 
Fabula,  quae  posci  volt  et  spectanda  reponi ;  190 

Nee  deus  intersit,  nisi  dignus  vindice  nodus 
Inciderit ;  nee  quarta  loqui  persona  laboret. 

Actoris  partis  chorus  officiumque  virile 
Defendat,  neu  quid  medios  intercinat  actus 
Quod  non  proposito  conducat  et  haereat  apte.  195 


III.]  LIBER    II.  153 

Ille  bonis  faveatque  et  consilietur  amice, 

Et  regat  iratos  et  ainet  pacare  timentis : 

Ille  dapes  laudet  mensae  brevis,  ille  salubrem 

lustitiam  legesque  et  apertis  otia  portis ; 

Ille  tegat  commissa,  deosque  precetur  et  oret  200 

Ut  redeat  iniseris,  abeat  fortuna  superbis. 

Tibia  non,  ut  nunc,  orichalco  vincta  tubaeque 
Aemula,  sed  tenuis  simplexque  foramine  pauco 
Adspirare  et  adesse  choris  erat  utilis  atque 
Nondum  spissa  nimis  complere  sedilia  flatu ;  205 

Quo  sane  populus  numerabilis,  utpote  parvus, 
Et  fmgi  castusque  verecundusque  coibat. 
Postquam  coepit  agros  extendere  victor,  et  urbis 
Latior  amplecti  murus,  vinoque  diurno 
Placari  Genius  festis  inipune  diebus ;  210 

Accessit  numerisque  modisque  licentia  maior. 
Indoctus  quid  enim  saperet  liberque  laborum 
Kusticus  urbano  confusus,  turpis  honesto  ? 
Sic  priscae  motumque  et  luxuriem  addidit  arti 
Tibicen  traxitque  vagus  per  pulpita  vestein ;  215 

Sic  etiam  fidibus  voces  crevere  sevens, 
Et  tulit  eloquium  insolitum  facundia  praeceps, 
Utiliumque  sagax  rerum  et  divina  futuri 
Sortilegis  non  discrepuit  sententia  Delphis. 

Carmine  qui  tragico  vileni  certavit  ob  hircum,  220 

Mox  etiam  agrestis  Satyros  nudavit  et  asper 
Incolumi  gravitate  iocum  temptavit,  eo  quod 
Inlecebris  erat  et  grata  novitate  morandus 
Spectator  functusque  sacris  et  potus  et  exlex. 
Verum  ita  risores,  ita  comniendare  dicacis  225 

Conveniet  Satyros,  ita  vertere  seria  ludo, 
Ne  quicumque  deus,  quicumque  adhibebitur  heros, 
liegali  conspectus  in  auro  nuper  et  ostro, 
Migret  in  obscuras  humili  sermone  tabernas, 


154  EPISTULARUM 

Aut,  dum  vitat  humum,  nubes  et  inania  captet. 
Effutire  levis  indigna  tragoedia  versus, 
Ut  festis  matrona  mover!  iussa  diebus, 
Intererit  Satyris  paulluin  pudibunda  protervis. 

Non  ego  inornata  et  dominantia  nomina  solum 
Verbaque,  Pisones,  Satyrorum  scriptor  amabo, 
Nee  sic  enitar  tragico  differre  colori, 
Ut  nihil  intersit,  Davusne  loquatur  et  audax 
Pythias,  emuneto  lucrata  Simone  talentum, 
An  custos  famulusque  dei  Silenus  alumni. 
Ex  noto  fictum  carmen  sequar,  ut  sibi  quivis 
Speret  idem,  sudet  multum  frustraque  laboret 
Ausus  idem :  tantum  series  iuncturaque  pollet, 
Tantum  de  medio  sumptis  accedit  honoris. 
Silvis  deducti  caveant  me  iudice  Fauni, 
Ne  velut  innati  triviis  ac  paene  forenses 
Ant  nimium  teneris  iuvenentur  versibus  umquam, 
Aut  inimunda  crepent  ignominiosaque  dicta ; 
Offenduntur  enim,  quibus  est  equus  et  pater  et  res, 
Nee,  si  quid  fricti  ciceris  probat  et  nucis  emptor, 
Aequis  accipiunt  animis  donantve  corona. 

Syllaba  longa  brevi  subiecta  vocatur  iambus, 
Pes  citus ;  iinde  etiam  trimetris  adcrescere  iussit 
Nomen  iambeis,  cum  senos  redderet  ictus 
Primus  ad  extremum  similis  sibi.     Non  ita  pridem, 
Tardior  ut  paulo  graviorque  veniret  ad  auris, 
Spondeos  stabilis  in  iura  paterna  recepit 
Commodus  et  patiens,  non  ut  de  sede  secunda 
Cederet  aut  quarta  socialiter.     Hie  et  in  Acci 
Nobilibus  trimetris  apparet  rarus,  et  Enni 
In  scaenam  missos  cum  magno  pondere  versus 
Aut  operae  celeris  nimium  curaque  carentis 
Aut  ignoratae  premit  artis  crimine  turpi. 
Non  quivis  videt  immodulata  poemata  index, 


III.]  LIBER   II.  155 

Et  data  Komanis  venia  est  indigna  poetis. 

Idcircone  vager  scribamque  licenter  ?     An  omnis  265 

Visuros  peccata  putem  mea,  tutus  et  intra 

Spem  veniae  cautus  ?  Vitavi  denique  culpam, 

Non  laudem  merui.     Vos  exeinplaria  Graeca 

Nocturna  versate  manu,  versate  diurna. 

At  vestri  proavi  Plautinos  et  numeros  et  270 

Laudavere  sales,  nimimu  patienter  utrumque, 

Ne  dicam  stulte,  mirati,  si  modo  ego  et  vos 

Scimus  inurbanum  lepido  seponere  dicto, 

Legitimumque  sonuin  digitis  calleinus  et  aure. 

Ignotum  tragicae  genus  invenisse  Camenae  275 

Dicitur  et  plaustris  vexisse  poemata  Thespis 
Quae  canerent  agerentque  peruncti  faecibus  ora. 
Post  hunc  personae  pallaeque  repertor  honestae 
Aeschylus  et  modicis  instravit  pulpita  tignis 
Et  docuit  magnum que  loqui  nitique  cothurno.  280 

Successit  vetus  his  comoedia,  non  sine  multa 
Laude ;  sed  in  vitiuin  libertas  excidit  et  vim 
Dignam  lege  regi.     Lex  est  accepta  chorusque 
Turpiter  obticuit  sublato  iure  nocendi. 

Nil  intemptatum  nostri  liquere  poetae ;  285 

Nee  minimum  meruere  decus  vestigia  Graeca 
Ausi  deserere  et  celebrare  domestica  facta, 
Vel  qui  praetextas  vel  qui  docuere  togatas. 
Nee  virtute  foret  clarisve  potentius  armis, 
Quam  lingua  Latium,  si  non  offenderet  unum  290 

Quemque  poetarum  limae  labor  et  mora.     Vos,  o 
Pompilius  sanguis,  carmen  reprehendite  quod  non 
Multa  dies  et  multa  litura  coercuit  atque 
Perfectum  deciens  non  castigavit  ad  unguem. 

Ingenium  misera  quia  fortunatius  arte  295 

Credit  et  excludit  sanos  Helicone  poetas 
Domocritus,  bona  pars  non  unguis  ponere  curat, 


156  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

Non  barbam,  secreta  petit  loca,  balnea  vitat. 

Nanciscetur  enim  pretiuin  nomenque  poetae, 

Si  tribus  Anticyris  caput  insanabile  numquam  300 

Tonsori  Licino  commiserit.     0  ego  laevus, 

Qui  purgor  bilem  sub  verni  temporis  horani ! 

Non  alius  f aceret  meliora  poemata :  verum 

Nil  tanti  est.     Ergo  fungar  vice  cotis,  acutum 

Eeddere  quae  f erruin  valet,  exsors  ipsa  secandi ;  305 

Munus  et  officium,  nil  scribens  ipse,  docebo, 

Unde  parentur  opes,  quid  alat  formetque  poetam, 

Quid  deceat,  quid  non,  quo  virtus,  quo  ferat  error. 

Scribendi  recte  sapere  est  et  principium  et  f ons : 
Rem  tibi  Socraticae  poterunt  ostendere  chartae,  310 

Verbaque  provisam  rem  non  in  vita  sequentur. 
Qui  didicit  patriae  quid  debeat  et  quid  arnicis, 
Quo  sit  amore  parens,  quo  frater  amandus  et  hospes, 
Quod  sit  conscripti,  quod  iudicis  officium,  quae 
Partes  in  bellum  niissi  ducis  ;  ille  profecto  315 

Reddere  personae  scit  convenientia  cuique. 
Respicere  exemplar  vitae  morumque  iubebo 
Doctum  imitatorem  et  vivas  hinc  ducere  voces. 
Interdum  speciosa  locis  niorataque  recte 
Fabula  nullius  Veneris,  sine  pondere  et  arte,  320 

Valdius  oblectat  populum  meliusque  moratur, 
Quani  versus  inopes  reruin  nugaeque  canorae. 

Grais  ingenium,  Grais  dedit  ore  rotundo 
Musa  loqui,  praeter  laudem  nullius  avaris. 
Romani  pueri  longis  rationibus  asseni  325 

Discunt  in  partis  centum  diducere.     '  Dicat 
Filius  Albini :  si  de  quincunce  remota  est 
Uncia,  quid  superat  ?     Poteras  dixisse.'     '  Triens.'     i  Eu ! 
Rem  poteris  servare  tuam.     Redit  uncia,  quid  fit  ? ' 
1  Semis/     At  haec  animos  aerugo  et  cura  peculi  330 

Cum  semel  imbuerit,  speramus  carmina  fingi 


III.]  LIBER   II.  157 

Posse  linenda  cedro  et  levi  servanda  cupresso  ? 

Aut  prodesse  volunt,  aut  delectare  poetae, 
Aut  siniul  et  iucunda  et  idonea  dicere  vitae. 
Quicquid  praecipies,  esto  brevis,  ut  cito  dicta  335 

Percipiant  aninii  dociles  teneantque  fideles : 
Ornne  supervacuum  pleno  de  pectore  manat. 
Ficta  voluptatis  causa  sint  proxima  veris. 
Ne  quodcumque  velit  poscat  sibi  fabula  credi, 
Neu  pransae  Lamiae  vivum  puerum  extrahat  alvo.  340 

Centuriae  seniorum  agitant  expertia  frugis, 
Celsi  praetereunt  austera  poeraata  Ramnes : 
Omne  tulit  punctum,  qui  miscuit  utile  dulci, 
Lectoreni  delectando  pariterque  monendo. 
Hie  ineret  aera  liber  Sosiis,  hie  et  mare  transit  345 

Et  longiun  noto  scriptori  prorogat  aevum. 

Sunt  delicta  tamen  quibus  ignovisse  velimus ; 
Nam  neque  chorda  somim  reddit,  quern  volt  manus  et  rnens, 
Poscentique  gravem  persaepe  remittit  acutum ; 
Nee  semper  feriet,  quodcumque  minabitur,  arcus.  350 

Verum  ubi  plura  nitent  in  carmine,  non  ego  paucis 
Offendar  inaculis,  quas  aut  incuria  fudit 
Aut  hum  ana  parum  cavit  natura.     Quid  ergo  est  ? 
Ut  scriptor  si  peccat  idem,  librarius  usque, 
Quainvis  est  monitus,  venia  caret,  et  citharoedus  355 

Eidetur,  chorda  qui  semper  oberrat  eadem ; 
Sic  mihi,  qui  multurn  cessat,  fit  Choerilus  ille, 
Quern  bis  terque  bonum  cum  risu  miror ;  et  idem 
Indignor  quandoque  bonus  dormitat  Homerus. 
Yerum  operi  longo  fas  est  obrepere  somnuin.  360 

Ut  pictura  poesis :  erit  quae,  si  propius  stes, 
Te  capiat  magis,  et  quaedam  si  longius  abstes. 
Haec  arnat  obscurum ;  volet  haec  sub  luce  videri, 
ludicis  argutum  quae  non  f orrnidat  acumen ; 
Haec  placuit  semel,  haec  deciens  repetita  placebit.  365 


158  EPISTULARUM 

0  maior  iuvenum,  quamvis  et  voce  paterna 
Fingeris  ad  rectum  et  per  te  sapis,  hoc  tibi  dictum 
Tolle  memor,  certis  medium  et  tolerabile  rebus 
Recte  coiicedi.     Consultus  iuris  et  actor 
Causarum  mediocris  abest  virtute  diserti 
Messallae,  nee  scit  quantum  Cascellius  Aulus, 
Sed  tamen  in  pretio  est ;  niediocribus  esse  poetis 
Non  homines,  non  di,  non  concessere  columnae. 

Ut  gratas  inter  mensas  symphonia  discors 
Et  crassum  unguentum  et  Sardo  cum  melle  papaver 
Offendunt,  poterat  duci  quia  cena  sine  istis ; 
Sic  animis  natum  inventumque  poema  iuvandis, 
Si  paulum  summo  decessit,  vergit  ad  imum. 
Ludere  qui  nescit,  campestribus  abstinet  armis, 
Indoctus  que  pilae  discive  trochive  quiescit, 
Ne  spissae  risum  tollant  impune  coronae : 
Qui  nescit  versus  tamen  audet  fingere.     Quidni  ? 
Liber  et  ingenuus,  praesertim  census  equestrem 
Sum  mam  nummorum,  vitioque  remotus  ab  omni. 

Tu  nihil  invita  dices  faciesve  Minerva, 
Id  tibi  indicium  est,  ea  mens ;  si  quid  tamen  olim 
Scripseris,  in  Maeci  descendat  iudicis  auris 
Et  patris  et  nostras,  nonumque  prematur  in  annum, 
Membranis  intus  positis ;  delere  licebit, 
Quod  non  edideris ;  nescit  vox  missa  reverti. 

Silvestris  homines  sacer  interpresque  deorum 
Caedibus  et  victu  foedo  deterruit  Orpheus, 
Dictus  ob  hoc  lenire  tigris  rabidosque  leones. 
Dictus  et  Amphion,  Thebanae  conditor  urbis, 
Saxa  movere  sono  testudinis  et  prece  blanda 
Ducere  quo  vellet.     Fuit  haec  sapientia  quondam, 
Publica  privatis  secernere,  sacra  profanis, 
Concubitu  prohibere  vago,  dare  iura  maritis, 
Oppida  moliri,  leges  incidere  ligno. 


III.]  LIBER   II.  159 

Sic  honor  et  nomen  divinis  vatibus  atque  400 

Carminibus  venit.     Post  hos  insignis  Homerus 

Tyrtaeusque  mares  animos  in  Martia  bella 

Versibus  exacuit ;  dictae  per  carmina  sortes, 

Et  vitae  monstrata  via  est ;  et  gratia  regum 

Pieriis  temptata  modis ;  ludusque  repertus,  405 

Et  longorum  operum  finis :  ne  forte  pudori 

Sit  tibi  Musa  lyrae  sollers  et  cantor  Apollo. 

Natura  fieret  laudabile  carmen  an  arte, 
Quaesitum  est :  ego  nee  studium  sine  divite  vena, 
Nee  rude  quid  prosit  video  ingenium ;  alterius  sic  410 

Altera  poscit  opem  res  et  coniurat  amice. 
Qui  studet  optatam  cursu  contingere  inetam, 
Multa  tulit  fecitque  puer,  sudavit  et  alsit, 
Abstinuit  Venere  et  vino ;  qui  Pythia  cantat 
Tibicen,  didicit  prius  extimuitque  magistrum.  415 

Nunc  satis  est  dixisse :  '  Ego  mira  poemata  pango ; 
Occupet  extremum  scabies ;  mihi  turpe  relinqui  est, 
Et  quod  non  didici  sane  nescire  fateri.' 

Ut  praeco,  ad  merces  turbam  qui  cogit  emendas, 
Adsentatores  iubet  ad  lucruin  ire  poeta  420 

Dives  agris,  dives  positis  in  faenore  nuramis. 
Si  vero  est,  unctum  qui  recte  ponere  possit 
Et  spondere  levi  pro  paupere  et  eripere  atris 
Litibus  implicitum,  mirabor  si  sciet  inter 
Noscere  mendacem  verumque  beatus  amicum.  425 

Tu  seu  donaris  seu  quid  donare  voles  cui, 
Nolito  ad  versus  tibi  factos  ducere  plenum 
Laetitiae ;  clamabit  enim  c  Pulchre  !  bene !  recte ! ' 
Pallescet  super  his,  etiam  stillabit  amicis 
Ex  oculis  rorem,  saliet,  tundet  pede  terram  430 

Ut  qui  conducti  plorant  in  funere  dicunt 
Et  faciunt  prope  plura  dolentibus  ex  animo,  sic 
Derisor  vero  plus  laudatore  movetur. 


160  EPISTULARUM  [III. 

Eeges  dicuntur  multis  urgere  culullis 

Et  torquere  mero,  quem  perspexisse  laborant,  435 

An  sit  araicitia  dignus ;  si  carmina  condes, 

Numquam  te  fallent  animi  sub  volpe  latentes. 

Quintilio  si  quid  recitares,  '  Corrige,  sodes, 

Hoc '  aiebat  l  et  hoc.'     Melius  te  posse  negares, 

Bisterque  expertum  frustra;  delere  iubebat  440 

Et  male  tornatos  incudi  reddere  versus. 

Si  defendere  delictum  quam  vertere  malles, 

Nullum  ultra  verbum  aut  operam  insumebat  inanem, 

Quin  sine  rivali  teque  et  tua  solus  amares. 

Vir  bonus  et  prudens  versus  reprehendet  inertis,  445 

Culpabit  duros,  incomptis  adlinet  atrum 

Transverso  calamo  signum,  ambitiosa  recidet 

Ornamenta,  parum  Claris  lucem  dare  coget, 

Arguet  ambigue  dictum,  mutauda  notabit, 

Fiet  Aristarchus ;  non  dicet :  '  Cur  ego  amicum  450 

Offendam  in  nugis? '     Hae  nugae  seria  ducent 

In  mala  derisum  semel  exceptumque  sinistre. 

Ut  mala  quem  scabies  aut  rnorbus  regius  urget 
Aut  fanaticus  error  et  iracunda  Diana, 

Vesanum  tetigisse  timent  fugiuntque  poetam,  455 

Qui  sapiunt ;  agitant  pueri  incautique  sequuntur. 
Hie  dum  sublimis  versus  ructatur  et  errat, 
Si  veluti  merulis  intentus  decidet  auceps 
In  puteum  f oveamve,  licet  *  Succurrite '  longum 
Clamet  <Io  cives,'  non  sit  qui  tollere  curet.  400 

Si  curet  quis  opem  ferre  et  demittere  fun  em, 
'  Qui  scis,  an  prudens  hue  se  deiecerit  atque 
Servari  nolit  ? '  dicam,  Siculique  poetae 
Narrabo  interitum.     Deus  immortalis  haberi 
Dum  cupit  Empedocles,  ardentem  frigidus  Aetnam  405 

Insiluit.     Sit  ius  liceatque  perire  poetis : 
Invitum  qui  servat,  idem  facit  occidenti. 


III.]  LIBER   II.  161 

Nec  semel  hoc  fecit,  nee  si  retractus  erit,  iain 

Fiet  homo  et  ponet  famosae  mortis  amorem. 

Nee  satis  apparet,  cur  versus  f actitet ;  utrum  470 

Minxerit  in  patrios  cineres,  an  triste  bidental 

Moverit  incestus.     Certe  furit,  ac  velut  ursus, 

Obiectos  caveae  valuit  si  frangere  clatros, 

Indoctum  doctumque  fugat  reeitator  acerbus ; 

Quern  vero  arripuit,  tenet  occiditque  legendo,  475 

Non  missura  cutem,  nisi  plena  cruoris,  hirudo. 


NOTES. 


SERMONES  —  BOOK   I. 
SERMO  I. 

The  Title  :  the  manuscripts  are  practically  unanimous  for  Sermo- 
num  liber  primus  and  Sermonum  liber  secundus.  Strict  Latinity 
would  require  liber  prior  and  liber  alter.  On  Sermonum,  see  Introd. 
§  24. 

1.  qui  fit,  Maecenas :   how  does  it  happen,  Maecenas  ?    These 
words  serve  as  a  dedication  of  the  first  book  of  Sermones  to  Horace's 
friend  and  patron,  Maecenas ;  see  Introd.  §  4.     Qui  is  an  adverb  from 
the  i-stem  of  the  interrogative  pronoun  ;  with  qui  and  quo,  cf.  quibus 
and  quorum.     See  Introd.  §  48.  b.     quam  .  .  .  sortem  .  .  .  ilia  = 
ilia  sorte  .   .  .  quam,  a  common  form  of  expression  in  Latin.        sor- 
tem :  lot,  condition  in  life,  either  as  the  result  of  fors  or  ratio. 

2.  ratio  dederit  .  .  .  fors  obiecerit :   his  own  choice  has  given 
him,  or  chance  has  thrown  in  his  way  ;  cf.  Cic.  ad  Att.  xiv.  13.  3,  sed 
haec  fors  viderit,  ea  quae  talibus  in  rebus  plus  quam  ratio  potest. 
Dederit  and  obiecerit  are  subjunctive  by  attraction,  the  relative  clause 
forming  an  essential  part  of  the  consecutive  clause  ut  .  .  .  vivat. 

3.  laudet :  but  each  man  envies  ;  sc.  quisque,  implied  in  nemo  ;  cf. 
Cic.  de  Orat.  iii.  14.  52,  nemo  extulit  eum  verbis  .  .  .  sed  contempsit 
eum.    Laudet  means  '  to  praise  as  happy,'  and  so  *  to  envy ' ;  cf.  Greek 
/j-aicapifa.     Note  the   asyndeton.         diversa  :    opposite,  i.e.  differing 
widely  from  his  own.         sequentis  :  those  who  follow.     Note  that  this 
idea,  expressed  in  Greek  by  the  article  and  the  participle,  is  expressed 
in  Latin  by  the  participle  alone  ;  eos  sequentis  would  have  a  different 
meaning.     See  note  on  quaesitis,  line  38  below. 

4.  mercatores  :  traders ;  the  reference  is  to  men  who  sail  in  their 
own  ships  to  foreign  ports,  i.e.  wholesale  traders,  as  opposed  to  cau- 
pones ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  16.    After  the  general  statement  of  his  subject 

163 


164  BOOK   I.     SERMO   1.  [PAGE  2. 

in  lines  1-3,  Horace  presents  it  more  vividly  by  the  selection  of  specific 
types.  In  reading  this  line,  be  careful  to  give  the  spondees  in  the  first 
four  feet  their  full  quantitative  value,  otherwise  the  rhythm  is  wholly 
lost.  gravis  annis  :  a  descriptive  epithet.  Horace  has  in  mind  a 
soldier  who  has  lost  the  vigor  and  enthusiasm  of  youth,  but  is  not  yet 
incapacitated  for  service.  In  his  walks  about  the  city  (see  i.  6.  Ill  f.) 
he  must  often  have  seen  such  men  and  heard  their  complaints. 

5.  multo  .  .  .  labore  :  note  the  separation  of  the  adjective  and  the 
substantive,  —  a  very  common  order  in  Latin.       iam :  at  last,  i.  e.  after 
years  of  service.        membra :  object  of  fractus,  which  is  used  in  a 
middle  sense.     See  Introd.  §  38.  c. 

6.  contra :  on  the  other  hand,  a  common  expression  in  the  Serm. 
and  Epist.  ;  cf.  i.  2.  4  ;  i.  2.  30  ;  i.  6.  12  ;  etc.         iactantibus  :  note 
the  tense.     It  is  in  the  midst  of  the  storm  that  the  trader  envies  the 
soldier.        Austris :  the  reference  is  of  course  to  winds  in  general, 
but  Horace,  as  usual,  gives  vividness  to  his  picture  by  selecting  a  spe- 
cific example.       Auster,  the  burning  sirocco,  is  often  used  of  a  stormy 
wind  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  4  ;  iii.  27.  22  ;  iv.  14.  21  ;  etc. 

7.  quid  enim?  why  so?  a  colloquial  expression.     Cf.  Porph.  ad 
loc.,  quasi  interpellate  affectu  hoc  dicitur,  et  est  etiam  consuetudinis 
nostrae.      In  Cicero,  quid  enim  introduces  a  point  that  might  be 
advanced  in  opposition  to  an  argument,  and  is  always  followed  by  a 
question ;  e.g.   Tusc.  Disp.  iv.  4.  8,  quid  enim  9  metusne  conturbet  ? 
concurritur  :  impersonal.        horae  momento  :   in  a  short  time ; 
cf.  puncto  mobilis  horae,  Epist.  ii.  2.  172.         In  these  expressions, 
horae  does  not  have  its  literal  meaning  of  '  an  hour,'  but  is  prac- 
tically synonymous  with  temporis,  as  in  Livy  xxxv.  11.  13,  momento 
temporis  castra  relicta  erant.     The  same  thing  is  probably  true  of 
Plin.  N.  H.  vii.  172,  Maecenati  triennio  supremo  nullo  horae  momento 
contigit  somnus,  where  of  course  we  have  hyperbole. 

8.  cita  mors  :  contrasted  with  the  trader's  end  after  a  long  strug- 
gle with  the  gale;  cf.  Porph.  ad  loc.,  quasi  diu  navem  iactantibus 
austris  hoc  dicitur. 

9.  laudat :  for  the  meaning,  see  note  on  line  3  above.         iuris 
legumque  peritus :  the  reference  is  not  to  the  professional  lawyer 
(causidicus,  patronus),  but  to  the  city  gentleman  skilled  in  legal  lore 
(iuris  consultus).     His  clients  called  on  him  early  in  the  morning,  at 
the  time  of  the  salutatio ;  cf.  Epist.  ii.  1.  103-104.     The  early  rising 
which  these  services  made  necessary  would  appear  to  Horace  a  special 
hardship  ;  cf.  i.  6.  122  ;  ii.  3.  3. 


PAGE  2.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  1.  165 

10.  sub  galli  cantum :  just  before  cock-crow.     The  anxious  client 
arrives  betimes.          ubi :    note  the  position  of  the  word,  a  common 
order  in  Latin.         ostia  pulsat  :  knocks  at  the  door.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  4. 
13,  Pallida  mors  aequo  pulsat  pede  pauperum  tabernas,  Begumque 
turris. 

11.  ille :  does  not  refer  to  the  consultor,  who  comes  of  his  own 
accord,   but  with  the  city  gentleman  is  contrasted  a  countryman 
(agricola,  line  9 ;  rusticus,  line  17)  who,  because  he  has  given  bail  to 
appear  in  court  on  a  certain  day  (datis  vadibus),  is  obliged  to  come  to 
the  city  against  his  will  (extractus)  ;  cf.  i.  9.  36. 

12.  solos,  etc.  :  note  the  spondees  in  the  first  four  feet,  and  see 
note  on  line  4.        clamat :  cries  out.     The  countryman  is  evidently 
visiting  the  city  for  the  first  time,  and  is  amazed  at  its  beauty  and 
magnificence. 

13.  cetera  de  genere  hoc  :  other  instances  of  the  kind.     A  com- 
mon expression  in  Lucretius,  of  whom  there  are  many  reminiscences 
in  Horace.     Cf.,  e.g.,  Lucr.  v.  164,  Cetera  de  genere  hoc  adfingere  et 
JfQre,  Memmi,  Desiperest.  adeo   sunt  multa:   parenthetical, 
instead  of  adeo  sunt  multa  ut  .  .  .  valeant.     A  common  Latin  usage. 
loquacem  :   i.e.  even  so  loquacious  a  fellow  as  Fabius.    Note  the  em- 
phatic position  of  the  adjective. 

14.  Fabium  :  Porph.  says  Q.  (uod}  Fabius  Maximus  Narbonensis, 
equestri  loco  natus,  Pompeianas  partes  secutus,  aliquot  libros  ad  Stoi- 
cam  philosophiam  pertinentes  conscripsit.    Since  such  a  note  might  be 
constructed  from  the  hint  given  in  the  text,  it  is  doubtful  whether  much 
weight  ought  to  be  assigned  to  this  and  similar  utterances  of  Porphyrio. 
valent:  are  enough  to.         ne  te  morer :  not  to  delay  you,  i.e.  to 
make  a  long  story  short »  a  parenthetical  final  clause. 

15.  quo  rem  deducam :  to  what  conclusion  lam  coming;  more 
lit.,    '  to  what  end  I  will  spin  the  thread  of  my  discourse,'  si 
quis  deus  :    Horace,  in  his  usual  manner,  has  a  specific  god  in  mind, 
namely,  Jupiter,  as  appears  below.     See  notes  on  mercatores,  line  4, 
and  Austris,  line  6  above.        en  ego  .   .  .  iam  faciam  quod  voltis : 
lo  I  I  will  forthwith  do  what  you  wish.     The  god  appears  to  grant  the 
wishes  of  the  dissatisfied  men.     The  scene  is  sketched  vividly,  as  it 
might  be  acted  on  the  stage.     The  god  is  thought  of  as  appearing 
between  the  pairs  of  men  whose  lots  in  life  are  to  be  exchanged. 

16.  qui  modo  miles  :  sc.  eras.     The  ellipsis,  which  is  not  con- 
sciously present  to  the  mind,  is  characteristic  of  the  colloquial  lan- 
guage. 


166  BOOK  I.     SERMO  1.  [PAGE  2. 

17.  hinc  vos,  vos  hinc   .    .    .    discedite  :  i.e.  go  your  several 
ways.     Note  the  chiasmus. 

18.  mutatis  .  .  .  partibus :  with  your  roles  (in  the  drama  of  life) 
changed.         heia:  well!  an  exclamation  of  impatience,  as  the  men 
hesitate  to  accept  the  opportunity  offered  them. 

19.  nolint :  sc.  mutare  partes,  the  apodosis  to  dicat  in  line  15. 
licet :  sc.  eis,  to  the  case  of  which  beatis  is  attracted. 

20.  causae  :  genitive  of  the  whole  with  quid.         merito  :  note 
the  emphatic  position.      Grammatically  merito  modifies  iratus ;  in 
sense  it  refers  both  to  the  anger  and  to  the  mode  of  expressing  it. 
quin:  why  .  .  .  not, 'the  original  meaning  (c/.  qui,  line  1).      It  in- 
troduces the  indirect  deliberatives  inflet .  .  .  dicat.        illis :  the  dative 
is  governed  both  by  buccas  inflet  and  iratus  (see  note  on  merito  above) , 
an  example  of  the   dirb  KOIVOV  construction.  ambas  .   .  .  buc- 
cas inflet :  a  comic  representation  of  anger,  such  as  Horace  had  doubt- 
less seen  in  some  mime,  or  farce.     Bucca  (French  bouche)  is  the  col- 
loquial word,  which  eventually  displaced  the  classical  os.     Cf.  Cic.  ad 
Att.  i.  12.  4,  si  rem  nullam  habebis,  quod  in  buccam  venerit  scribito. 
See  In  trod.  §55.' a.                                       x 

22.  facilem:  easy-going,  good  naturedS 

23.  praeterea :  taking  up  the  subject  again  with  ille  gravem  .  .  . 
in  line  28.     A  common  expression  in  Lucretius  (c/.  cetera  de  genere 
hoc,  line  13,  and  the  note)  ;  e.g.  ii.  757,  Praeterea  si  nulla  colons 
principiis  est  Reddita  natura.  ...        ut  qui  iocularia :  sc.  percurrit : 
like  one  who  rattles  off  jokes,  i.e.  like  a  writer  of  farces.     Cf.  Liv.  vii. 
2.  5,  imitari  deinde  eos  iuventus  simul  inconditis  inter  se  iocularia 
fundentes  versibus  coepere.     On  the  ellipsis,  see  note  on  i.  1.  16. 

24.  quamquam  :  and  yet. 

25.  olim  :   sometimes;   olim,  from  ol-  +  the  instrumental  ending 
-im,  means  at  that  time  (i.e.  any  time  except  the  present),  hence 
formerly,  hereafter,  or  sometimes.          dant  crustula :  c/.  Quint,  i. 
1.  26,  non  excludo  autem,  id  quod  est  notum  irritandae  ad  discendum 
infantiae  gratia  eburneas  etiam  litterarum  formas  in  lusum  offerre; 
Hieron.  Epist.  12,  interim  modo  litterarum  elementa  cognoscat,  iungat 
syllabas  .  .  .  atque  ut  voce  tinnula   ista  meditetur,  proponantur  ei 
crustula,  mulsa  praemia. 

26.  elementa  prima  :    their  letters.         velint   .    .   .   discere : 
may  wish  to  learn,  i.e.  may  regard  it  as  a  pleasure  to  learn. 

27.  sed   tamen :    but  yet,  'i.e.    quamquam  niliil  vetat  ridentem 
dicere  verum,  implied  in  quamquam  .  .  .  quid  vetat  ?        quaeramus 


PAGES.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  1.  167 

seria :  i.e.  let  us  consider  the  matter  seriously.  Seria  is  the  neuter 
plural  of  the  adjective  used  as  a  substantive,  object  of  quaeramus.  See 
Introd,  §  49.  b. 

28.  ille  gravem  duro,  etc. :  the  same  examples  as  in  lines  4-14, 
except  that  here,  since  avarice  is  to  be  named  as  the  cause  of  discon- 
tent, the  perfidus  caupo  (see  note  on  mercatores,  line  4)  is  substituted 
for  the  iuris  consultus,  whose  services  were  given  without  compensa- 
tion.     See  above,   line  9.      Note  the  juxtaposition  of  gravem  and 
duro,  emphasizing  the  difficulty  of  the  labor.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  11. 

29.  hie :    opposed  to  ille  in  the  preceding    line.         nautae  = 
mercatores j  cf.  Tibull.  i.  3.  39,  Nee  vagus  ignotis  repetens  compendia 
terris  Presserat  externa  navita  merce  ratem. 

30.  currant :  a  common  expression  in  such  a  connection.      Cf. 
Epist.  i.  1.  45,  and  Virg.  Aen.  iii.  191,  vastum  cava  trabe  currimus 
aequor,  cited  by  Porphyrio.        hac  mente  :  with  this  idea.     Note 
the  emphatic  position  of  the  phrase. 

31.  senes  :  when  they  are  old  men.        tuta  :  contrasted  with  the 
dangers  of  military  service  or  of  a  seafaring  life. 

32.  sint  congesta :  the  subjunctive  shows  that  the  cwm-clause  is 
part  of  the  indirect  discourse  introduced  by  hac  mente.          cibaria  : 
i.e.  enough  to  live  on  ;  the  word  is  used  of  the  rations  of  slaves  or 
of  soldiers,  and  implies  the  bare  necessities  of  life. 

33.  parvola  :  tiny,  diminutive  otparvus.     The  use  of  diminutives 
is  characteristic  of  the  colloquial  language,  but  here  parvola  is  used 
for  the  sake   of   contrast.    See   note  on  magni  laboris  below,   and 
Introd.  §  55.  e.     exemplo  est:  sc.  eis,  that  is  their  model,  i.e.  the 
example  they  cite  in  self-justification ;    exemplo  is  the  dative  of  pur- 
pose, for  which  the  poets,  especially  Propertius  and  Ovid,  sometimes 
use  the   predicate  nominative   or  accusative ;    e.g.   Prop.   i.    22.    6. 
Sic  mihi  praecipue,  pulvis  Etrusca,  dolor.         magni  .  .  .  laboris : 
magni  is  contrasted  with  parvola,  '  that  tiny  type  of  giant  industry ' 
(Conington).     Cf.   line  56  below.     The  genitive  of  quality -modifies 
formica  directly,  instead  of  the  usual  formica,  animal  magni  laboris; 
cf.  Odes,  i.  36.  13  ;  Liv.  iv.  41.  12,  exactae  iam  aetatis  Capitolinus. 

36.  quae  =  at  ea.  simul  =  simul  ac,  as.  frequently  ;  cf.  line 
67  below.  inversum  contristat  Aquarius  annum  :  in  January 
the  sun  is  in  Aquarius,  and  the  year  has  completed  its  circle  ;  hence 
inversum,  brought  to  an  end.  Contristat  is  appropriately  used  of 
the  rainy  Roman  winter  ;  cf.  Porph.  ad  loc.,  maxime  sole  in  Aquario 
constituto  tempestates  horrendae  et  frigora  ingentia  solent  esse. 


168  BOOK  I.     SERMO  1.  [PAGE  3. 

The  adjective  tristis  is  a  frequent  epithet  of  imber  and  the  like  ;  cf. 
Odes,  i.  3.  14,  tristis  Hyadas. 

38.  quaesitis  =  acquisitis,  modifies  illis,  the  store  that  it  has  got 
together.     Notice  the  difference  in  meaning  between  illis  quaesitis 
and  sequentis  in  line  2  ;   see  the  note.      The  use  of  the  simple  for  the 
compound  verb  is  colloquial  and  poetic.        sapiens :  like  a  true  phi- 
losopher ;  note  the  position  of  the  word.     Sapiens  is  the  Latin  equiv- 
alent of  the  Greek  philosophus.     It  is  used  as  a  substantive  ;  see  note 
on  line  27  above.  cum  :  adversative,  whereas. 

39.  demoveat :  potential  subjunctive. 

40.  dum  ne :  a  colloquial  expression,  instead  of  the  usual  dum- 
modo  ne.         alter :   note    that  the  word  is  alter,  not  alius ;  hence 
THE  other  man,  your  rival.     The  avaricious  man  is  willing  to  endure 
any  hardship  or  encounter  any  danger,  provided  he  can  keep  his 
rival  from  outstripping  him  in  the  race  for  riches. 

41.  quid  iuvat  .  .  .  te  :  what  pleasure  can  it  give  you  ? 

42.  furtim  .  .  .  timidum :  these  words  vividly  portray  the  anxiety 
which  comes  with  increase  of  riches.        deponere :  the  usual  word 
for  intrusting  money  to  some  one's  care ;  here  used  ironically. 

43.  quod  =  at  id ;  cf.  quae  in  line  36.     The  miser  tries  to  justify 
his  conduct.        vilem  .  .  .  assem :  a  paltry  farthing.     The  as  was 
the  unit  of  the  Roman  coinage,  originally  a  pound  of  copper.     It  was 
gradually  reduced  until  its  weight  was  but  half  an  ounce  and  its  value 
less  than  a  cent.     It  was  used  proverbially  of  a  small  sum ;   cf. 
Epist.  ii.  2.  27,  viatica  ad  assem  perdiderat. 

44.  at  ni  id  fit:  i.e.  nisi  comminuas.         pulchri :  genitive  of  the 
whole  j  cf.  causae,  line  20  above.        constructus  acervus :  the  poet 
has  in  mind  the  figure  of  the  ant ;  cf.  acervus  quern  struit,  line  34. 

45.  milia  frumenti:  sc.  medimnum,  genitive  plural.     Cf.   Lucil. 
486  L.,  Milia  dum  centum  frumenti  tollis  medimnum,    Vini  mille 
cadum.         triverit :  jussive  subjunctive  with  concessive  force ;  cf.  i. 
3.  15.          area:    threshing-floor,  a  paved  surface  near  the  field,  on 
which  the  sheaves  were  spread.      The  grain  was  then  trodden  out  by 
oxen,  or  threshed  out  by  the  tribulum  or  by  flails.     Cf.  Varro,  De  Re 
Rustica,  i.  52,  id  (tribulum}  fit  e  tabula  lapidibus  aut  ferro  asperata, 
quae  cum  imposito  auriga  aut  pondere  gram  trahitur  iumentis  iunctis, 
discutit  e  spica  grana.     Such  threshing-floors  may  be  seen  to-day  in 
Italy  and  Greece. 

46.  hoc :  on  this  account ;  cf.  i.  3.  93. 

47.  reticulum  :    the   bag  (English   reticule}  in  which  bread  for 


PAGE  3.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  1.  169 

the  use  of  the  troop  of  slaves  was  carried.  Cf.  Juv.  xii.  60,  Mox  cum 
reticulis  et  pane  et  venire  lagonae  Aspice  sumendas  in  tempestate 
secures.  venalis :  slaves;  strictly,  slaves  offered  for  sale,  who  are 
here  represented  as  being  driven  in  a  gang  to  the  slave-market.  Such 
a-sight  must  have  been  a  common  one  in  Rome,  and  furnishes  an  apt 
illustration.  The  rich  man  has  the  burden  of  his  wealth  to  carry,  but 
can  do  no  more  than  satisfy  his  actual  needs.  Venalis  is  a  substantive 
formed  by  the  ellipsis  of  servos.  See  note  on  line  27  above.  inter : 
governs  venalis.  The  anastrophe  of  dissyllabic  prepositions  is  com- 
mon in  Horace. 

48.  forte  vehas :  you  should  happen  to  carry.     Horace  is  fond  of 
conditions  of  this  type.         accipias  .  .  .  portarit :  note  the  tenses, 
you  would  receive  no  more  at  the  halt  for  dinner,  than  he  who  carried 
nothing  on  the  march. 

49.  quid  referat :   what  difference  would  it  make  ?    apodosis  to 
the  protasis  implied  in  viventi.        iiitra  naturae  finis   viventi :   to 
one  icho  lives  within  the  bounds  which  nature  sets,  i.e.  if  you  live 
according  to  nature's  laws.      The  dative'  (viventi),  which  is  rare  with 
refert,  is  a  dative*  of  'reference ;   cf.  Tac.  Ann.  xv.  65,  non  referre 
dedecori,  si  citharoedus  demoveretur  et  tragoedus  succederet,  where 
Nipperdey  proposes  to  read  dedecoris;  Plaut.  True.  394,  quoi  rei  te 
adsimulare  retulit  ?    The  usual  construction  is  the  genitive,  or  ad  with 
the  accusative. 

50.  iugera :  acres.     The  iugerum  was  strictly  about  two-thirds 
of  an  acre,  containing  28,800  square  feet,  while  the  acre  contains 
43,560.        centum  an  mille  :  either  amount  would  be  too  great  for 
one  intra  naturae  finis  viventi. 

51.  at  suave  est :  an  attempt  at  self-justification  by  the  avaricious 
man. 

52.  parvo:  sc.  acervo.     See  note  on  line  27  above.         tantun- 
dem  :  just  as  much  as  the  rich  man,  who  required  no  more  than  the 
poor  man  to  satisfy  his  actual  needs.        haurire  relinquas:  allow 
us  to  take,  a  poetical  use  of  the  infinitive. 

53.  cumeris  :  chests  or  bins  of  pottery  or  wicker-work  (cf.  Epist. 
i.  7.30)  contrasted  with  the  granaries  of  the  rich  man.    Ablative  of 
comparison  with  plus. 

54.  liquidi :  i.e.  aquae,  to  be  taken  with  urna.     Urna  is  the  jar 
in  which  water  was  drawn  and  carried,  while  cyatho  is  the  ladle  for 
dipping  it  out. 

55.  mallem  :  I  should  prefer.     The  form  of  the  apodosis  contrary 


170  BOOK  I.     SERMO  1.  [PAGE  3. 

to  fact,  since  the  man  is  thought  of  as  standing  by  the  little  brook 
(note  hoc)  and  wishing  that  he  might  draw  from  the  great  river. 

56.  fonticulo :    brooklet.      The   diminutive  is  here   used   in  its 
literal  sense  and  contrasted  with  magno.     See  note  on  line  33  above. 
eo  :  ablative  of  cause,  thus  it  happens. 

57.  plenior   .   .    .   iusto  :    greater  than  is,  right.        lusto  is  the 
neuter  of  the  adjective  used  substantively. 

58.  cum  ripa  simul:  bank  and  all.        Aufidus  acer:  as  usual, 
Horace  uses  a  specific  example  (see  note  on  Austris,  line  6  above),  and 
naturally  chooses  the  river  near  his  home.     With  the  epithet  acer,  cf. 
Odes,  iii.  30.  10 ;  iv.  9.  2  ;  iv.  14.  25. 

59.  qui  .  .  .  is  :  the  man  who ;  for  is  .  .  .  qui  (see  note  on  quam 
sortem  .  .  .  ilia,  line  1  above).        tantuli :  genitive  with  eget.     See 
B.  212.  1.        eget  .  .  .  est  opus :  desires  only  so  much  as  is  actually 
necessary.         limo  turbatam  :  the  poet  is  thinking  of  the  Aufidus 
when  swollen  by  the  spring  freshets,   at  which  time  only  could  it 
properly  be  called  magnum  flumen. 

61.  bona    pars  =  magna   pars.      Porph.   says :    bona    mine  pro 
magna  dictum,  ut  saepe  Ennius  et  alii  veteres.     Cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.  46. 
The  expression  is  not  found  in  the  fragments  of  Ennius  which  have 
come  down  to  us,  but  is  found  in  Ter.  Eun.  123,  Nam  hie  quoque 
bonam  magnamque  partem  ad  te  .attulit;  Cic.  De  Orat.  ii.  3.  14, 
bonam  partem  sermonis  in  hunc  diem  esse  dilatam.        cupidine: 
always  masculine  in  Horace.        falso  :  blind,  i.e.  misleading. 

62.  quia  tanti  quantum  habeas  sis :    because  you  are  rated  by 
the  amount  of  your  possessions.      Cf.  Lucil.  Inc.  23   M.,  Quantum 
habeas,  tantum  ipse  sies  tantique  habearis.     Quanti  is  genitive  of 
value,  used  predicately  with  sis.    Habeas  and  sis  are  subjunctive  be- 
cause of  the  indefinite  second  person  singular. 

63.  illi :  such  a  man  as  that,  the  individual  suggested  by  boi 
pars.    The  usual  construction  with  facio  in  this  sense  is  the  insti 
mental  ablative.     The  dative  occurs  also  in  Cic.  pro  Caec.  11.  30,  qui 
huic  tu  homini  facias  ?        libenter :  of  his  own  free  will.     Note 
emphatic  position. 

64.  quatenus :   as  long  as,  i.e.  since.    Quatenus  always  has 
meaning  in  Horace.      It  is  found  first  in  Lucr.  ii.  927,  Quatenus 
pullos  animalis  vertier  ova  Cernimus  alituum.     Lucr.  is  followed 
Horace  and  Ovid,  but  the  usage  is  not  found  in  prose  before 
Max.        id  facit :  i.e.  miser  est.        quidam  .  .  .  Athenis :  a  mi 
at  Athens,  a  colloquial  form  of  expression. 


PAGE  4.]  BOOK   T.srifaiMl  171 


65.  populi  voces  :  popular  opinion. 

66.  sibilat  :  a  means  of  expressing  disapproval  in  the  theatre,  as 
plaudo  expressed  the  reverse.     Both  words  are  used  metaphorically. 

68.  Tantalus-:  the  stories  of  the  crime  and  punishment  of  Tantalus 
are  variously  told.     This  is  the  Homeric  version,  which  we  might 
expect  Horace  to  follow.      Our  English  verb  to  tantalize  is  derived 
from  Tantalus.     Note   that,  as  usual,   Horace   identifies  the  person 
addressed  and  the  one  with  whom  he  is  compared,  instead  of  saying 
sicut  Tantalus,  captas.     Cf.  lines  32-33  above.        captat  :  note  the 
intensive  verb. 

69.  quid  rides  ?  what  are  you  laughing  at  ?    A  rhetorical  device. 
The  poet  anticipates  a  derisive  laugh  at  his  hackneyed  story. 

70.  saccis  :   there  is  evidently  a  pun  on  saccis  and  sacris  (at  the 
end  of  line  71).      Such  plays  on  words  are  common  in  comedy,  to 
which  satire,  especially  in  its  "dialogues,  is  closely  allied,  since  both 
represent  the  language  of  everyday  life. 

71.  indormis  inhians:  you  fall  asleep,  gloating  over  •  i.e.  he  sits 
so  long  in  contemplation  of  his  wealth,    that  sleep  overcomes  him. 
et  :  and  yet,  adversative.        tamquam  :  modifies  sacris. 

72.  cogeris  :   the   verb  has  the  force  of  the  middle  voice,  force 
yourself.        pictis  tamquam  gaudere  tabellis:    enjoy  them  as  if 
they  were  pictures,  i.  e.  through  the  sight  alone.      A  painting  of  a  pUe 
of  money-bags  would  in  reality  be  just  as  useful. 

73.  quo  valeat  nummus  :  what  money  is  for. 

74.  panis  .  .  .  bolus,  vini  sextarius  :  the  bare  necessaries  of  life, 
since  wine  was  regarded  as  an  essential  article  of  food,  and  not  as  a 
luxury.      The  sextarius  was  .54  of  a  litre,  i.e.  about  a  pint.          ema- 
tur  :   jussive  subjunctive. 

75.  quis  .  .  .  doleat  natura  negatis  :  i.e.  the  comforts,  but  not 
the  luxuries  of  life  ;   things  whose  loss  would  really  be  felt.      Negatis 
has  a  conditional  force.  ,    On  the  form  quis  (ablative),  cf.  note  on 
qui,  line  1. 

76.  an  :  here,  as  often,  with  an  ironical  force,  introducing  a  reduc- 
tio  ad  absurdum.         vigilare  :  in  apposition  with  hoc  in  line  78. 

77.  incendia  :  fires  were  of  frequent  occurrence  in  ancient  Rome, 
and  were  greatly  dreaded.          servos  :   another  source  of  constant 
menace.     Cf.  Fest.  p.  348,  quot  servi,  tot  hostes,  in  proverbio  est;  Sen. 
Epist.  47.  5,  deinde  eiusdem  arrogantiae  proverbium  iactatur  :  totidem 
hostes  esse  quam  servos.      The  same  dangers  are  spoken  of  together  in 
Epist.  ii.  1.  121. 


172 


BOOK   I.     SERMO  1. 


[PAGE  4. 


78.  ne  te  compilent  fugientes :  lest  they  rob  you,  and  take  to 
their  heels.     The  slaves  run  away,  and  rob  their  master  before  leaving 
the  house. 

79.  optarim  :   potential  subjunctive.         bonorum  :  genitive  with 
pauperrimus,  an  extension  of  the   construction    with   adjectives  of 
plenty  and  want ;    cf.    Odes,  iii.  30.  11 ;  Serm.  ii.  3.  142  ;   and  see 
Introd.  §  40.  a.    After  pauperrimus,  bonorum,  which  is  reserved  to  the 
end  of  the  sentence,  comes  in  the  nature  of  a  surprise,  a  common 
device  in  Horace  ;   note  the  emphatic  position  of  horum. 

80.  frigore :   a  chill  of  fever,  a  common  affection  in  the  malarial 
district  in  which  Rome  was  situated.     Cf.  frigida  quartana,  ii.  3.  290. 

81.  casus :   misfortune,   with  the  double  idea  of    '  chance '    or 
'accident,'  and  '  danger.'     Cf.  ii.  5.  49,  si  quis  casus  puerum  egerit 
Oreo.        lecto  te  adfixit:   has  confined  you  to  your  bed.         qui 
adsideat :  some  one  to  sit  by  your  side ;  the  subjunctive  has  a  final 
force. 

83.  gnatis  :  in  the  Sermones,  the  spelling  of  the  substantive  is 
gnatus  (gnata),  while  that  of  the  participle  is  natus.  Cf.  i.  3.  43  ;  i. 
5.  53 ;  ii.  3.  203.  In  the  Odes,  both  are  spelled  without  the  g.  Cf. 
ii.  18.  28  ;  iii.  5.  42  ;  iv.  4.  55. 

85.  pueri  atque  puellae  :   of  both  sexes,  a  stereotyped  expres- 
sion.    Cf.  ii.  3.  130,  Insanum  te  omnes  pueri  clamentque  puellae. 

86.  tu :    emphatic    personal    pronoun,     contrasted    with    nemo. 
argento  :   dative  governed  by  post-ponas,  which  is  divided  by  tmesis. 
For  the  tmesis,  cf.  i.  3.  92  ;  i.  6.  58. 

87.  si   nemo    praestet :  a  subjunctive  protasis  with  the  apodosis 
in  the  indicative  (wu'ram).         merearis  :  subjunctive  by  attraction. 

88.  an  si :   see  note  on  an  in  line  76.        nullo  labore :  sc.  tuo, 
with  no  effort  on  your  part.        cognates  .  .  .  amicos  :  correspond- 
ing respectively  to  uxor  and  filius  and  vicini,  noti,  lines  84  and 
above. 

90.  infelix  :  fruitlessly,  applied  not  only  to  plants  (infelix  loliui 
Virg.  Georg.  i.  154),  but  to  men  as  well ;  cf.  Ars  Poet.  34,  infelix 
summa.        asellum  :   the  diminutive  does  not  here,  as  in  line 
refer  merely  to  size,  but,  as  often,  has  a  notion  of  contempt,  a  sorry  at 

91.  in  Campo  :   sc.  Martio,  i.e.  on  the  race-course. 

92.  denique  :   in  short,  summing  up  the  discourse  and  bringing 
to  a  close.        plus  :   a  superfluity,  more  than  enough  for  your  acti 
needs. 

94.    parto  :  sc.  eo,  antecedent  of  quod;  ablative  absolute.        qi 


PAGE  5.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  1.  173 

avebas :   with  reference  to  cum  habeas  plus,  and  to  congesta  cibaria, 
line  31.        facias  :  meet  with  the  fate  of. 

95.  dives:  followed  by  an  explanatory  consecutive  clause,  though 
not  modified  by  an  adverb,  —  not  an  uncommon  construction  in  the 
Satires.     See  i.  7.  13  ;  ii.  7.  10 ;  Epist.  i.  16.  12 ;  and  cf.  ita  sordidus, 
ut  in  line  96. 

96.  ut  metiretur  nummos :  a  proverbial  expression  for  great 
wealth.     Cf.  Petron.  37,  Fortunata  appellatur,  quae  nummos  modio 
metitur. 

97.  servo :  the  singular  may  possibly  imply  that  Ummidius  had 
but  one  slave  (than  his  slave},  which  would  vividly  portray  his  mean- 
ness.    Cf.,  however,  Epist.  i.  16.  63,  qui  melior  servo  avarus,  'how 
much  better  is  the  miser  than  a  slave.'        ad  usque  supremum 
tempus :  sc.  vitae,  up  to  his  very  last  moment. 

99.  at :  but  in  fact.  Hejtell  a  victim  not  to  penuria  victus,  but  to 
the  liberta.  liberta  :  freed  slaves  were  called  liberti  (-ae)  with  ref- 
erence to  their  former  masters,  libertini  with  reference  to  their  posi- 
tion in  the  community. 

100.  divisit  medium  :  cut  in  two.  Tyndaridarum  :  of  Tyn- 
dareus'1  children,  referring  to  Clytemnestra,  who  slew  her  husband 
Agamemnon  with  an  axe.  On  the  identification  of  the  liberta  with 
Clytemnestra,  see  note  on  Tantalus,  line  68  above. 

101.  Naevius  .  .  .  Nomentanus :   the  latter  was  a  well-known 
spendthrift,  often  mentioned  by  Horace  ;  e.g.  i.  8.  11 ;  ii.  1.  22 ;  ii.  3. 
175  and  224.     The  former  may  possibly  be  the  same  as  the  simplex 
Naevius  of  ii.  2.  68. 

102.  pugnantia  .  .  .  frontibus  adversis :  like  contending  gladi- 
ators ;  cf.  i.  7.  20.     The  metaphor  is  not  an  unusual  one ;    cf.  Lucr. 
vi.   117,  concurrere  nubes  Frontibus  adversis.      Horace  is  fond  of 
metaphors  derived  from  gladiators  and  gladiatorial  contests. 

103.  componere  :  to  reconcile. 

104.  vappam:    a  good-for-nothing,   lit.    vapid  wine.      Cf.   Plin. 
N.H.  14.  125,  vappae  accipit  nomen  probrosum  etiam  hominum,  cum 
degeneravit  animus.        nebulonem :  a  colloquial  word,  occurring  also 
in  Lucil.  391  L.,  Publius  Parus  mihi  [tubitanus]  quaestor  Hibera  In 
terra  fuit,  lucifugus,  nebulo  id  genus  sane.      It  is  connected  with 
nebula,  cloud,  mist. 

105.  Tanain  .  .  .  socerumque  Viselli :    these  two  men  illus- 
trated extremes  of  some  sort.     Tanain  is  in  form  a  Greek  accusative. 

107.   quos  ultra  citraque :  note  the  anastrophe,  and  cf.  line  47 


174  BOOK   I.     SERMO  1.  [PAGE  5. 

above.        nequit  consistere  rectum  :  one  cannot  be  right,  lit.  right 
cannot  exist. 

108.  illuc,  unde  abii,  redeo  :  i.e.  to  the  beginning  of  the  Satire. 
qui :  cf.  qui  jit  in  line  1.  Qui  is  used  very  often  by  Horace  in  direct 
questions,  but  only  here  in  an  indirect  question.  Cf. ,  however,  Lucr. 
iv.  633,  Nunc  aliis  alius  qui  sit  cibus  unicus  aptus  Expediam ;  iv.  887, 
nunc  qui  fiat  .  .  .  dicam.  ut  avarus:  on  account  of  avarice,  inas- 
much as  he  is  avaricious.  The  ut  is  explanatory ;  cf.  ii.  2.  Ill,  ut 
sapiens  ;  Odes,  iii.  5.  42,  ut  capitis  minor.  Avarice  has  been  found  to 
be  the  cause  of  the  universal  discontent,  and  is  now  for  the  first  time 
directly  stated  as  such. 

110.  aliena  capella :  another's  goat.     Cf.  Ovid,  Ars  Amat.  i.  349, 
Fertilior  seges  est  alienis  semper  in  ayris,  Vicinumque  pecus  grandius 
uber  habet. 

111.  tabescat :  cf.  Epist.  i.  2.  57,  invidus  alterius  macrescit  rebus 
opimis. 

112.  hunc  atque  hunc  :  one  man  after  the  other.     The  double 
meaning  of  superare  suggests  the  following  figure.      Note  that  Horace, 
in  his  usual  manner,  identifies  the  miser  and  the  charioteer ;  see  note 
on  Tantalus,  line  68  above. 

113.  sic  :  modifying  festinanti  and  not  correlative  with  the  follow- 
ing ut.         obstat :  bars  his  way. 

114.  carceribus :    the  stalls  from   which  the   chariots  started ; 
also  called  claustra  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  14.  9,  amat  spatiis  obstantia  rumpere 
claustra.         missos  :  the  technical  word  for  the  start  of  a  race.     Cf. 
Enn.  Ann.  89,  quam  mox  emittat  pictis  exfaucibus  currus.     With  the 
whole  passage,  cf.  Virg.  Georg.  i.  512,  — 

At  cum  carceribus  sese  effudere  quadrigae, 
Addunt  in  spatia  etfrustra  retinacula  tendens 
Fertur  equis  auriga,  neque  audit  currus  habenas. 

115.  suos  :  sc.  equos,  object  of  vincentibus.       ilium  praeteritum : 
i.e.  aurigam  quern praeteriit. 

116.  temnens  =  contemnens,  a  somewhat  rare  use  of  the  word, 
and  one  which  is  confined  to  poetry.     See  note  on  quaesitis,  line  38 
above.         extremes  inter  euntem  =  quasi  inter  extremos  eat  or  ut 
inter  extremos  euntem. 

117.  inde  fit :  that  is  why  it  happens,  the  answer  to  qui  fit  in 
line  1.         raro  :  a  modified  statement ;  cf.  nemo  in  line  1. 

119.    cedat  uti  conviva  satur:   cf.  Lucr.  iii.  938,  Cur  non  ut 


PAGE  11. J  BOOK   I.     SERMO   3.  175 

plenus  vitae  conviva  recedis,  Aequo  animoque  capis  securam,  stulte, 
quietem  9        Cedat  is  subjunctive  in  a  clause  of  characteristic. 

120.  Crispin! :  a  Stoic  and  a  versifier,  whom  Horace  satirizes  also 
in  i.  3.  139 ;  i.  4.  14 ;  and  ii.  7.  45.    In  the  second  of  the  passages 
named,  as  is  implied  here,  he  is  described  as  an  unduly  prolific  writer. 
scrinia  :  cylindrical  boxes,  usually  of  beech-wood,  for  holding  rolls  of 
manuscript.         lippi  :  this  affection,  which  seems  to  have  been  a 
common  one  at  Rome,  is  often  the  subject  of  jests.     So  by  Horace, 
although  he  suffered  from  it  himself  ;  see  i.  5.  30  and  49. 

121.  verbum  non  amplius  addam  :   a  pleonastic  expression  ;  cf. 
Lucr.  iii.  941,  cur  amplius  adder e  quaeris  ? 

SERMO   III. 

1.  vitium:  this  word,  from  viere,  'bend,'  'twist,'  and  cognate 
with  vitis,  'vine,'  designates  primarily  a  straying  or  deviation  from  the 
norma,  or  conventional  standard ;  cf.  English  wrong,  from  Old  English 
wringan  ('bend,'  'twist'),  English  wring.      Hence  it  is  applied,  not 
only  to  faults,  but  also  to  eccentricities  of  conduct. 

2.  inducant  anirnum  :   for  inducant  in  aJiimum,  make  up  their 
mind.        rogati,  iniussi :  note  the  chiastic  order  and  the  resulting 
emphasis. 

3.  Sardus  :  in  the  emphatic  position,  as  a  term  of  contempt ;  cf. 
Cic.  ad  Fam.  vii.  24,  Sardos  venales,  alium  alio  nequiorem. 

4.  ille  :  the  notorious,      hoc:  sc.  vitium.      Caesar  :  the  reference 
is  to  Octavian,  i.  e.  C.  Julius  Caesar  Octavianus,  afterward  Augustus. 
posset:  note  the  tense,  was  in  a  position  to  compel  him;  subjunctive 
in  a  characteristic  clause. 

5.  peteret :  a  future  condition  transferred  to  past  time.       patris  : 
i.e.  his  adoptive  father,  Julius  Caesar. 

6.  collibuisset :  in  the  same  construction  as  peteret.  ,  The  verb  is 
used  only  in  the  tenses  from  the  perfect  stem.         ab  ovo  usque  ad 
mala  :  a  proverbial  expression,  meaning  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  a  dinner.     Eggs  formed  a  part  of  the  gustatio,  the  appetizers  which 
introduced  the   cena  (see  ii.  8  and  the  Outline);   while  apples  and 
other  fruits  were  served  with  the  mensa  secunda,  or  dessert.     Music 
was  a  common  form  of  entertainment  at  the  close  of  a  dinner,  but 
Tigellius,  if  the  fancy  seized  him,  would  sing  from  beginning  to  end. 

7.  io  Bacchae :  apparently  the  beginning  of  a  dithyramb.        modo 
summa  voce  .  .  .  ima :  i.e.  now  in  a  deep  bass  voice,  now  in  a 


176  BOOK  I.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  11. 

shrill  falsetto.  The  summa  chorda,  which  was  the  longest,  had  the 
deepest  tone,  the  ima  the  highest.  The  terms  were  reversed  when 
applied  to  the  voice,  as  we  see  from  Quint,  xi.  3.  42,  ima  vim  non 
habet,  summa  rumpi  periclitatur.  Horace  seems  to  use  the  terms 
suited  to  the  tetrachord,  but  to  apply  them  to  the  voice. 

8.  chordis :  probably  instrumental  ablative. 

9.  aequale  :  consistent ;  cf.  line  19.        velut  qui  .  .  .  hostem  : 
a  combination  of  currebat  velut  fugiens  hostem  and  currebat  velut  is 
currit  quifugit  hostem.        •' 

10.  persaepe :  sc.  incedebat,  implied  in  currebat.    "With  the  whole 
passage,   cf.   Sail.    Cat.    15   (of  Catiline),  citus  modo,  modo  tardus 
incessus. 

11.  sacra  ferret:  i.e.  with  slow  and  stately  tread  ;  cf.  Ovid,  Amor. 
iii.  13.  27,  More  patrum  sancto  velatae  vestibus  albis  Condita  supposito 
vertice  sacra  ferunt.        ducentos  :  hundreds  of;  the  choice  ofducen- 
tos  to  represent  an  indefinite  large  number  is  perhaps  affected  by  the 
alliteration  ducentos  .  .  .  decem.     See  Introd.  §  50. 

12.  decem  servos:  a  small  number  for  a  man  of  his  station. 
reges  atque  tetrarchas :  the  cognate  accusative,  or  accusative  of  the 
inner  object,  in  its  extended  form.     See  Introd.  §  38.  b.    Cf.  Cic.  ad 
Att.  ix.  2.  3,  Postumus  Curtius  venit,  nihil  nisi  classes  loquens  et 
exercitus.     Tetrarch  was  a  general  title  for  a  petty  Oriental  prince. 

13.  omnia  magna:    in  apposition  with  reges  atque  tetrarchas; 
magna  is  in  predicate  relation  to  omnia, —  all  things  big.        mensa 
tripes:  i.e.  an  old-fashioned  table.    Cf.  Plin.  N.H.  xxxiv.  14,  nam 
triclinia  aerata  abacosque  et  monopodia  Cn.  Jtfanlium  Asia  devicta 
primum  invexisse  triumpho  suo,  quern  duxit  anno  urbis  DLXVII,  L. 
Piso  auctor  est. 

14.  concha:  i.e.   a  shell,  instead  of  the  silver  salt-cellar  which 
was  sometimes  the  adornment  even  of  a  humble  table.    Cf.  Odes,  ii. 
16.  14.        salis  purl:  i.e.  of  plain  salt,  not  flavored  with  other  con- 
diments ;  cf.  Plin.  N.H.  xxxi.  37,  servandis  carnibus  aptior  (saZ)  acer 
et  siccus,  ut  Megaricus.     Conditur  etiam  odoribus  additis  et  pulmentari 
vicem  implet. 

15.  quamvis    crassa:    however  coarse  it  may  be.          deciens 
centena:    sc.    milia    sestertium   (genitive    plural),   about    $50,000. 
dedisses :  jussive  subjunctive  with  conditional  force,  if  you  had  given. 

17.  erat :  apodosis  to  the  condition  contrary  to  fact ;  erat  is  used 
instead  of  fuisset  for  vividness. 

18.  mane:   here  a  substantive,  a  use  mainly  confined  to  poetry 


PAGE  11.]  BOOK  I.     SEKMO  3.  177 

and  to  post-  Augustan  prose.  nil  fuit  umquam  :  there  never  was 
anything.  With  the  use  of  the  neuter,  cf.  i.  6.  55,  dixere  quid  essem; 
Odes,  i.  12.  17.  Introd.  §  43.  b. 

19.  sic  impar  sibi  :  so  inconsistent;  cf.  line  9,  nil  aequale  homini 
fuit   illi.          nunc  :  at  this  point.          dicat  :    may  say;  genuine 
potential  subjunctive,  without  an  implied  apodosis.      See  B.  280.  1. 
quid  tu?  how  about  yourself?    sc.  fads,  and  note  the  emphatic  tu. 

20.  immo  :  oh,  yes.    Immo  contradicts  or  corrects  a  preceding  state- 
ment, and  has  therefore  the  general  meaning  *  yes  '  after  a  negative 
and  '  no  '  after  an  affirmative  sentence.        minora  :  this  word  comes  in 
the  nature  of  a  rhetorical  surprise,  since  from  the  form  of  the  sentence 
we  should  expect  maiora  or  magna.     See  note  on  bonorum,  i.  1.  79. 

21.  Maenius  :  a  typical  figure  in  the  satires  of  Lucilius. 

22.  ut  ignotum  :  i.e.  as  if  we  did  not  know  you.         dare  verba  : 
deceive,  give  words  instead  of  the  reality  ;   a  common  expression  in 
comedy.     Cf.  Plaut.  Copt.  651,  verba  mihi  data  esse  video,  etc. 

23.  egomet  mi  :  note  the  strong  emphasis  on  the  first  personal 
pronoun. 

24.  stultus  et  improbus  :  note  the  emphatic  position.        notari  : 
for  the  infinitive  with  dignus,  see  Introd.  §  46.  a. 

25.  pervideas  .  .  .  inunctis  :  look  upon  your  own  faults  like  a 
purblind  man  with  anointed  eyes.    Mala  is  a  stronger  expression  than 
vitia  ;  cf.  the  '  beam  '  and  the  *  mote  '  of  scripture. 

26.  in  :  in  the  case  of.        acutum  :  accusative  of  the  inner  object  ; 
see  note  on  line  12  above.    For  a  similar  phrase,  see  Lucr.  iv.  802, 
acute  cernere  ;  for  a  similar  construction,  i.  8.  41. 

27.  aquila  :  cf.  H.  xvii.  673,— 


*Ps  &pa  (f><i}vri<r 
iravrove  ira.irra.ivw  war'  cu'eros,  8v  pd  T£  <pa<riv 
virovpavtuv 


serpens  Epidaurius:  the  serpent  was  regarded  by  the  Greeks  as 
keen-sighted,  whence  the  name  Spdwv  (from  StpnofMi,  5/>aKetV).  The 
symbol  of  Asklepios,  whose  principal  shrine  was  at  Epidaurus,  was  a 
serpent.  When  the  temple  to  Asklepios  (Aesculapius)  was  built  on 
the  island  in  the  Tiber,  a  serpent  was  brought  to  it  from  Epidaurus, 
as  the  representative  of  the  god. 

28.  vitia  .  .  .  tua  :  both  the  faults  referred  to  hi  lines  29-32  are 
mentioned  by  Horace  as  characteristic  of  himself.  Cf.  Epist.  i.  20. 
25  and  i.  1.  94-96. 


178  BOOK  I.     SERMO   3.  [PAGE  11. 

29.  acutis  naribus  :  keen  criticism.     Cf.  i.  4.  8,  and  the  opposite 
expression,  naris  obesae,  in  Epod.  12.  3. 

30.  possit:  potential  subjunctive,  like  dicat,  in  line  19. 

31.  rusticius  tonso :  his  hair  is  cut  in  a  somewhat  countrified 
style,  and.     Cf.  Epist.  i.  1.  94.     Tonso  is  dative  of  reference,  nearly 
equivalent  to  a  possessive  genitive.        toga  defluit :  i.e.  his  toga  does 
not  fall  about  him  in  carefully  arranged  folds,  but  hangs  carelessly. 
Cf.  Epist.  i.  1.  96.        male  laxus  .  .  .  haeret :  his  shoe  is  too  loose, 
and  will  hardly  stay  on  his  foot.     Male  appears  to  modify  both  laxus 
and  haeret  airb  KOLVOV;  cf.  illis,  i.  1.  20.     For  the  meaning  of  haeret, 
cf.  Odes,  i.  17. 27  ;  iii.  24.  55 ;  Serm.  i.  10.  49.     With  the  whole  passage, 
cf.  Quint,  xi.  3.  137,  et  toga  et  calceus  et  capillus  tarn  nimia  cura 
quam  neglegentia  sunt  reprehendenda. 

32.  ut  melior  vir:  sc.  sit,  a  result  clause  without  an  introductory 
adverb  (see  note  on  i.  1.  95)  and  with  the  verb  omitted. 

34.  te  ipsum :  note  the  emphasis,  expressed  both  by  the  words 
and  their  position. 

35.  concute  :  i.e.  give  yourself  a  thorough  shaking.        vitiorum: 
genitive  of  the  whole  with  qua  ;  —  qua  vitia.        inseverit :  subjunctive 
in  an  indirect  question,  governed  by  the  idea  of  asking  implied  in  con- 
cute.     The  figure   is   changed  to  one  derived  from  agriculture,  thus 
making  a  mixed  metaphor.        olim  :  see  note  on  i.  1.  25. 

36.  consuetude  :  inseverit  does  duty  as  the  verb  both  of  natura 
and  of  consuetudo.      With  the  latter  we  should  rather  expect  insue- 
verit  (cf.  i.  4.  105).      The  similarity  of  sound  between  insueverit  and 
inseverit  may  very  likely  have  determined  the  choice  of  the  latter 
word. 

37.  filix:  the  fern,  called  by  Virg.  Georg.  ii.  189,  curvis  invisa 
aratris.     Such  weeds  were  often  destroyed  by  fire.     See  Plin.  JV.  H. 
xviii.  300,  sunt  qui  accendant  in  arvo   et  stipulas,  magno   Vergili 
praeconio  ;  summa  autem  eius  ratio  ut  herbarum  semen  exurant. 

38.  illuc  praevertamur :  let  us  rather  turn  to  this  point.        ama- 
torem  .  .  .  caecum :  note  the  emphatic  position  of  the  adjective  at 
the  end  of  its  sentence. 

39.  turpia :    ugly  'defects,  blemishes.     The  adjective  is  used  as  a 
substantive. 

40.  Balbinum  :  otherwise  unknown.     The  cognomen  is  a  common 
one  ;  it  may  have  been  selected  for  a  doting  lover  on  account  of  its 
resemblance  to  balbutire  and  balbus.     See  note  on  line  48  below. 

41.  vellem  :  /  could  wish,  apodosis  of  an  unfulfilled  condition. 


PAGE  12.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  3.  179 

42.  nomen  .  .  .  honestum :   whereas  as  a  matter  of  fact  such 
blindness  to  one  another's  faults  on  the  part  of  friends  is  stigmatized 
as  flatted y. 

43.  ac  pater  ut  gnati  :  sc.  vitia  non  fastidit. 

44.  si  quod  sit  vitium  =  vitium,  si  quod  sit. 

45.  paetum :   this  word,  as  well  as  pullus,  varus,  and  scaurus, 
was  in  actual  use  as  a  proper  name  in  distinguished  Roman  families ; 
all  had  their  origin  in  personal  peculiarities.     Paetus  and  strabo  are 
thus  distinguished  by  Porph. :  strabo  detortis  qui  est  oculis,  paetus 
leniter  declinatis.    To  be  paetus  was  regarded  as  a  mark  of  beauty, 
and  the  term  is  applied  to  Venus,  e.g.  by  Petron.  68,  quod  strabonus 
est  non  euro,  sicut  Venus  spectat.    Lines  44-49  seem  to  be  suggested 
by  Lucr.  iv.  1160-1169,  on  the  blindness  of  lovers  to  the  defects  of 
their  sweethearts ;   cf.  lines  38-39  above.      There  is  also   a  parallel 
passage  in  Ovid,  Ars  Amat.  ii.  657  ff.,  while  the  opposite   attitude 
is  described  in  the  Hem.  Amor.  327  ff.         pullum :  cf.  Fest.  p.  316, 
antiqui  puerum  quern  quis  amabat  pullum  eius  dicebat.          male 
parvus:    i.e.  small  to  the  point  of  deformity,  dwarfed,  stunted;  cf. 
male  laxus,  line  31  above. 

47.  Sisyphus:  Porph.  says  :  Sisyphus M.  A ntoni  III  viri  pumilio 
fuisse  dicitur,  intra  bipedalem  staturam,  ingenio  tamen  vivax.        va- 
rum  .  .  .  scaurum :    Porph.   thus  distinguishes  these  two  defects  : 
vari  appellantur  introrsum  retortis  pedibus :  scauri  sunt  qui  extantes 
talos  habent. 

48.  balbutit :  fondly  calls;  the  word  really  means  'stammer,'  or 
'lisp,'  and  is  used  of  '  baby- talk.'     Cf.  Tibull.  ii.  5.  94,  balbaque  cum 
puero  dicere  verba  senem. 

49.  parcius :  rather  stingily  ;  the  comparatives  in  this  line  and  in 
the  two  following  denote  a  moderate  degree  of  the  respective  faults. 
ineptus :  the  positive   is  used  instead  of  the   comparative,    because 
of  the  meaning  of  the  word,  since  the  fault  does  not  admit  degrees. 
Cf.  Cic.  de  Oral.  ii.  4,  17,  qui  in  aliquo  genere  aut  inconcinnus  aut 
multus  est,  is  esse  ineptus  dicitur.    See  i.  6.  16.    The  comparative  and 
superlative  of  the  word  are  rare,  but  both  are  used  by  Quintilian. 

50.  concinnus:  i.e.  commodus,  agreeable.     Cf.  Plaut.  Mil.  1024, 
age  ut  tibi  maxume  concinnumst.        amicis  :  may  be  taken  both  with 
videatur  and  with  concinnus,  airb  KOIVOV. 

52.  liber  :  outspoken.         simplex  :  frank,  candid. 

53.  caldior :  the  syncopated  form  of  calidior.     The  shorter  form, 
due  to  a  more  rapid  pronunciation,  belongs  in  general  to  the  colloquial 


180  BOOK   I.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  12. 

language.    In  the  Augustan  poets  the  frequent  use  of  the  shorter  form 
is  doubtless  often  due  to  metrical  requirements. 

55.  invertimus  :  i.e.  regard  them  as  faults.    In  a  somewhat  similar 
sense  in  Odes,  iii.  5.  7,  pro  curia  inversique  mores/ 

56.  incmstare  :  befoul,  properly  of  the  deposit  left  by  wine  in  an 
unwashed  vessel ;  here  used  figuratively  of  slander. 

57.  demissus :  spiritless,  here  used  in  an  uncomplimentary  sense. 
Cf.,  however,  Cic.  de  Orat.  ii.  43.  182,  ea  omnia,  quae  proborum,  de- 
missorum,  non  acrium,  non  pertinacium,  non  litigiosorum,  non  acer- 
borum  sunt,  valde  benevolentiam  conciliant. 

58.  tardo  .  .  .  pingui :  tardo  is  here  used  in  a  complimentary,  or 
at  least  in  a  neutral,  sense  ;  pingui,  with  depreciatory  force.     Cf. 
pingue  ingenium,  ii.  6.  14. 

61.  vigent  crimina  :  i.e.  slander  is  believed. 

62.  fictum  :  a  dissembler,  fromftngere,  'makeup.'      Cf.  English 
'fiction.' 

63.  simplicior  quis  et  est:  et  serves  as  a  connective  with  the 
preceding  sentence.     Note  the  order,  which  is  not  uncommon  in 
poetry. 

64.  libenter  obtulerim :  have  freely  shown  myself.     Obtulerim  is 
subjunctive  in  a  clause  of  characteristic.     The  parenthetical  clause, 
qualem  .   .  .    obtulerim,   refers    only    to    simplicior,    not    to   what 
follows. 

66.  communi  sensu  :  cf.  Sen.  de  Benef.  i.  12.  3,  nemo  tarn  stultus 
est,  ut  monendus  sit,  ne  cui  gladiatores  aut  venationem  iam  munere 
edito  mittat,  et  vestimenta  aestiva  bruma  .  .* .  /  sit  in  beneficio  sensus 
communis.  Tempus,  locum  observet. 

68.  nemo :  emphasized  by  its  position,  between  vitiis  and  sine. 
Note  the  anastrophe. 

69.  urgetur :  loaded  down,  as  if  one  carried  them  in  a  bag  on  his 
back.     Cf.  ii.  3.  299,  and  the  note  ;  Catull.  22.  20,  Suus  cuique  attri- 
butus  est  error,  Sed  non  videmus  manticae  quod  in  tergo  est.       amicus 
dulcis:  a  kindly  friend.     Cf.  Cic.  de  Amic.  24.  90,  scitum  est  illud 
Catonis,   melius  de  quibusdam   acerbos  inimicos  mereri  quam  eos 
amicos,  qui  dulces  videantur. 

71.  inclinet :  like  the  beam  of  the  balance.     Cf.  in  trutina  .  .  . 
eadem,  line  72. 

72.  hac  lege  :  on  this  condition. 
74.   illius :  scanned w  o  • 

76.    quatenus  :  since, '  as  long  as.'    See  note  on  i.  1.  64.       excidi : 


PAGE  13.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  3.  181 

sc.  nequit,  implied  in  nequeunt.    Cf.  Lucr.  iii.  310,  nee  radicitus  evelli 
mala  posse  putandumst. 

77.   stultis  :    according  to  the  Stoics,  vices  were  the  result  of 
stultitia. 

80.  tollere  :  to  remove  from  the  table.     Cf.  ii.  8.  10. 

81.  ligurrierit :  cf.  ii.  4.  79,  dum  furta  ligurrit.     Subjunctive  as 
part  of  the  condition. 

82.  Labeone  :  Porph.  says :  M.  Antistius  Labeo  praetorius,  iuris 
etiam  peritus,  memor  libertatis,  in  qua  natus  erat,  multa  contumaciter 
adversus   Caesarem    dixisse   et  fecisse   dicitur,   propter   quod  nunc 
Horatius  adulans  Augusto  insanum  eum  dicit. 

83.  furiosius  :  implying  a  more  violent  madness  than  insanus. 
Cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  iii.  5.  11,  hanc  enim  insaniam,  quae  iuncta  stul- 
titia patet  latins,  a  furore  disiungimus  .  .  .  itaque  non  est  scriptum 
(in  duodecim  tabulis)  si  insanus,  sed  si  furiosus  escit.     Here  the 
word  is  used  with  ironical  exaggeration. 

85.  insuavis:  the  opposite  of  dulcis,  line  69.        acerbus :  nay, 
even  harsh,  a  stronger  expression  than  insuavis. 

86.  Rusonem  :    Porph.  says :  Octavius  Huso  acerbus  faenerator 
fuisse  traditur,  idem  historiarum  scriptor.  See  note  on  Fabium,  i.  1. 14. 
debitor  aeris  :  the  debtor,  in  which  meaning  debitor  alone  is  frequent 
and  classical. 

87.  Kalendae  :   the  monthly  interest  was  due  on  the  Kalends, 
hence  the  epithet  tristes,  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  debtor.    The 
word  is  one  of  a  very  few  in  which  the  letter  k  is  retained  in  classical 
Latin,  doubtless  on  account  of  its  occurrence  in  legal  formulas. 

88.  mercedem:    the  interest,  in  distinction  from  the  principal, 
nummos.         unde  unde  extricat :  gets  together  somehow  or  other. 
Unde  unde  has  the  force  of  undecumque  (cf.  Lucr.  vi.  1017).     The 
expression  occurs  only  here  in  classical  Latin,  unless  it  be  read  in 
Catull.  67.  27,  and  is  probably  colloquial.        amaras  .  .  .  historias 
audit:  i.e.  the  creditor  forces  his  unhappy  debtor  to  listen  to  the 
reading  of  his  works. 

89.  porrecto  iugulo  :    as  if  awaiting  the  stroke  of  the  execu- 
tioner's axe.        captivus  ut:  like  a  prisoner ;  explanatory  utj  cf. 
i.  1.  108,  ut  avarus. 

90.  catillum  .  .  .  tritum:  i.  e.  a  rare  old  bowl.    Cf.  ii.  3.  21,   Quo 
vafer  ille  pedes  lavisset  Sisyphus  aere ;  and  Mart.  viii.  6.  9,  Hi  duo 
longaevo  censentur  Nestorefundi :  Pollice  de  Pylio  trita  columba  nitet. 

92.   ante :  temporal  in  sense,  modifying  sustulit. 


182  BOOK  I.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  13. 

95.  tide :  a  form  of  the  dative,  found  in  early  Latin  and  in  poetry  ; 
originally  a  locative.    See  B.  App.  174.        sponsum  negarit :  should 
disown  his  bond. 

96.  quis:  dative.         paria  .  .  .  peccata:  this  was  the  view  of 
the  Stoics.     Of.  Cic.  Mur.  29.  61,  omnia  peccata  esse  paria,  omne 
delictum  scelus  esse  nefarium.     Fere  qualifies  the  statement  somewhat. 

97.  sensus  moresque:    cf.  Cic.  de  Fin.  iv.  19.  55,  recte  facta 
omnia  aequalia,  omnia  peccata  paria.    Quae  cum  magnifice  primo  did 
viderentur,  considerata  minus  probabantur ;  sensus  enim  cuiusque,  et 
natura  rerum  atque  ipsa  veritas  clamabat  quodam  modo  non  posse 
adduci,  ut  inter  eas  res,  quas  Zeno  exaequaret,  nihil  interesset. 

99  f.    are  evidently  modelled  on  Lucr.  v.  780  ff. 

99.  primis  :    primeval.        animalia  :  creatures,  living  things,  not 
yet  worthy  the  name  of  men. 

100.  glandem  :  used  generally  for  food,  as  the  chief  article  of  diet 
of  primitive  man.      Cf.   Lucr.    v.    939,    glandiferas   inter  curabant 
corpora  quercus.         cubilia  :  cf.  Lucr.  v.  969  ff.,  Silvestria  membra 
Nuda  dabant  terrae,  nocturno  tempore  capti,  Circum  se  foliis  ac  frondi- 
bus  involventes. 

101.  unguibus:    cf.  Lucr.    v.    1283   ff.,    Arma    antiqua   manus 
ungues  dentesque  fuerunt,  Et  lapides  et  item  silvarum  fragmina  rami 
.  .  .  Posterius  ferri  vis  est  aerisque  reperta.        porro:  in  due  course. 

102.  post:  here  used  as  an  adverb  =  postea.     Cf.  ante,  line  92 
above. 

s  103.  verba  .  .  .  nominaque  :  i.  e.  verbs  and  nouns,  the  two  great 
divisions  of  language,  here  used  for  language  itself.  voces  .  .  . 
notarent :  i.e.  give  articulate  form  to  their  cries  (voces)  and  express 
their  feelings  ;  zeugma.  Notarent  is  final  subjunctive.  Cf.  Lucr.  v. 
1087,  varii  sensus  animalia  cogunt  Muta  tamen  cum  sint,  varias 
emittere  voces. 

105.  oppida  .  .  .  munire :  cf.  Lucr.  v.  1108,  condere  coeperunt 
urbis.        ponere  leges  :    to  make  laws ;  a  somewhat  unusual  ex- 
pression, corresponding  to  the  Greek  OtaOai  vdpovs.     Cf.  Cic.    Verr. 
2.  5.  11.  28,  iste  .  .  .  illis  legibus,  quaein  poculis  ponebantur,  diligen- 
ter  obtemperabat. 

106.  ne:  final. 

111.  fateare  necesse  est :  a  favorite  expression  with  Lucr.,  e.g. 
i.  399,  esse  in  rebus  inane  tamen  fateare  necessest. 

112.  evolvere  :  unroll,  like  a  scroll.        mundi :  the  world,  man- 


PAGE  14.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  3.  183 

113.  nee  natura  potest:  i.e.  men  cannot  by  nature.     With  the 
sentiment,  c/.«Sen.  Epist.  97.  15,  illic  dissentiamus  cum  Epicuro,  ubi 
dicit  nihil  iustum  esse  natura. 

114.  diversis:    from  the  opposite,  i.e.  evil.      Cf.  i.  1.  3,  diversa 
sequentis,  and  the  note. 

115.  vincet :  prove.        tantundem  idemque  :  referring  respec- 
tively to  quantity  and  quality. 

116  f.  .Cf.  Cell.  xi.  18.  3,  (Draco)  furem  cuiusmodicumque  furti 
supplicio  capitis  poeniendum  esse  et  alia  pleraque  nimis  severe  censuit 
sanxitque. 

117.  divum :    with   the  genitive   ending   ~um,   which    was    dis- 
placed for  the  most  part  in  o-stems  by  the  ending  -orum  (after  the 
analogy  of  the  pronominal  ending  -arum  of  the  a-stems).      It  was 
retained  in  some  words,  and  is  frequently  found  in  deum  and  divum. 
legerit:  stolen,  lit.  gathered;  cf.  English  'sacrilegious.' 

118.  aequas  :  equitable,  just. 

119.  scutica:  a  leather  thong,  a  milder  instrument  than  the  scourge 
(flagellum),  which  was  set  with  knobs  of  bone  or  metal,  to  tear  the 
flesh. 

120.  ut :  we   should  expect  ne.    Apparently  we  have  a  kind  of 
anacoluthon,  as  if  verisimile  non  est  or  something  similar  were  going 
to  follow.        ferula:  the  cane,  used  in  punishing  refractory  children 
and  schoolboys.     Cf.  Mart.  x.  62.  10,  ferulaeque  tristes,  sceptra  paeda- 
gofjorum. 

121.  pares  res  .  .  .  latrociniis :  a  combination  of  two  construc- 
tions, esse  paria  furta  latrociniis  and  esse  pares  resfurta  et  latrocinia. 
Cf.  note  on  line  9,  velut  qui  .  .  .  hostem. 

122.  magnis  :  governed  by  simile,  brachylogy  for  falce  simili  ei 
(/«?«')  qua  mayna. 

124.  si  dives,  etc. :  a  common  expression;  cf.  Epist.  i.  1.  107; 
Cic.  Mur.  29.  61 ;  solos  sapientes  esse  .  .  .  si  servitutem  serviant,  reges, 
etc. 

126.  cur  optas  quod  babes?  i.e.  regnum,  with  reference  to  123- 
124.        pater  Chrysippus  :  so  called  as  one  of  the  heads  of  the  Stoic 
school;    cf.  Ennius  pater,  Epist.  i.   19.  7,  as  the  father  of  Roman 
poetry. 

127.  crepidas:    high  Greek  shoes,    as   contrasted  with   soleae, 
sandals. 

128.  nee  :  nor  even.        sutor  est  sapiens  :  in  the  same  way  the 
sapiens  is  potentially,  not  actually,  king. 


184  BOOK  I.    SERMO  4.  [PAGE  14. 

129.  ut  .  .  .  tacet :  a  localized  version  of  Diog.  vii.  125,  Trdvra, 
efi    TroietV    rbv   ffO(f>bv,    us    Kal   Trdvra    (f>a/j,^v   TO.   avXrjfjLara,  e$   auXetV  rbv 
'IfffjL-rjvtav.     Note  the  indicative  with  quamvis,  and  see  Introd.  §45.  b. 

130.  modulator :  musician,  a  broader  term  than  cantor.        Al- 
fenus  :   apparently  a  barber  of  the  day,  who  abandoned  his  trade  and 
became  a  lawyer.        vafer  :  this  term  is  often  applied  to  the  law  and 
to  lawyers  ;  cf.  ii.  2.  131,  vafri  inscitia  iuris. 

136.  rumperis :  you  burst,  with  anger  or  with  'barking.'     Note 
the  passive  used  with  the  force  of  the  middle.        latras :  bark,  ap- 
plied humorously  to  the  Cynics,  whose  name  was  derived  from  /ciW, 
dog.        magnorum    inaxime     regum :     ironical ;     great  potentate 
though  you  are.     Note  the  alliteration. 

137.  ne  longum  faciam :   in  short;  cf.  i.  1.  120.         dum  .  .  . 
rex  ibis  :  while  you  go,  king  that  you  are.     Dum  with  the  future  is 
rare.      It    expresses    time    contemporaneous  and    coextensive    with 
vivam.        quadrante :    a  fourth  of  an   as,  about  a  quarter  of    a 
cent. 

138.  stipator  .  .  .  sectabitur:  i.  e.  your  only  body-guard  is.     Cf. 
Varr.  L.  L.  vii.  52,  qui  circum  latera  erant  regi  .  .  .  postea  a  stipa- 
tione  stipatores  appellarunt. 

139.  Crispinus :  cf.  i.  1.  120.          et :  correlative  with  -que  in  line 
142.     This  combination  is  rather  rare,  though  it  occurs  in  Cicero.    Cf. 
Enn.  Ann.  199  V.,  Hos  et  ego  in  pugna  vici  victusque  sum  ab  isdem; 
Cic.  de  Fin.  v.  22.  64,  quis  est  quin  intellegat  et  eos  .  .  .  fuisse  .  .  . 
nosque  .  .  .  dud. 

140.  stultus :  through  folly,  an  appositive  adjective.     Cf.  line  77 
for  the  force  of  the  word. 

SERMO   IV. 

1.  Eupolis  .  .  .  poetae :  the  three  greatest  of  the  writers  of  the 
Old  Comedy,  corresponding  to  Aeschylus,  Sophocles,  and  Euripides  in 
Tragedy.     Cf.  Quint,  x.  1.  66,  plures  eius  auctores,  Aristophanes  ta- 
men  et  Eupolis  Cratinusque  praecipui.     Tragoedias  primus  in  lucem 
Aeschylus  protulit  .    .    .  sed  longe  clarius  inlustraverunt  hoc  opus 
Sophocles  atque  Euripides.     Of  Eupolis   (died  about  411  B.C.)  and 
Cratinus  (died  about  422)  only  scanty  fragments  have  come  down  to 
us  ;  of  Aristophanes  (444-388)  we  have  eleven  plays,  of  which  two, 
the  Ecclesiazusae  and  the  Plutus,  belong  to  the  Middle  Comedy. 

2.  alii  .   .  .  virorum  est:  for  alii  viri,  quorum,  etc.,  cf.  i.  1.1. 


PAGE  16.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  4.  185 

The  reference  is  to  the  less  famous  representatives  of  the  Old  Comedy, 
such  as  Crates,  Phrynichus,  etc. 

3.  describi:   i.e.  held  up  for  censure;   cf.  Epist.  ii.  1.  154.     On 
the  construction,  see  note  on  notari,  i.  3.  24.       malus  ac  fur :  cf. 
malos  fures,  i.  1.  77. 

4.  foret  =  esset.     This  form  of  the  verb  is  rare  in  Cicero  and  is 
not  found  in  Caesar.    It  is  frequent  in  Plautus  and  Terence,  and  may 
be  archaic  or  colloquial.     Its  use  was  originally  confined  to  conditions 
contrary  to  fact  and  to  expressions  having  a  future  force.         alioqui : 
in  other  respects  •  a  colloquial  word,  apparently  first  used  in  literature 
by  Horace  (Lucr.  iii.  414  is  doubtful;   see  Lachmann's  note),  again 
in  i.  6.  66.    It  occurs  frequently  in  Pliny's  letters. 

5.  famosus  :  used  in  a  bad  sense,  notorious,  infamous.        liber- 
tate  :  freedom  of  speech,  a  characteristic  of  the  Old  Comedy,  before  it 
was  restrained  by  law ;   cf.  Quint,  x.  1.   65,  antiqua  comoedia  .  .  . 
facundissimae  libertatis  est  et  in  insectandis  vitiis  praecipua;  Ars 
Poet.  281  ff. 

6.  bine  .  .  .  pendet :  i.e.  takes  these  as  his  model.     Cf.  Epist. 
i.  1.  105,  de  te  pendentis  amid.        Lucilius  :  see  Introd.  §  20. 

7.  mutatis  .  .  .  pedibus :  i.e.  using  the  dactylic  hexameter,  in 
which  most  of  the  Satires  of  Lucilius  were  written,  instead  of  the 
iambic  trimeter  of  Attic  Comedy. 

8.  emunctae  .  .  .  naris :  keen-scented,  in  discovering  the  weak- 
nesses of  others.     Cf.  i.  3.  29 ;  ii.  2.  89  ;  and  the  opposite  expression, 
naris  obesae,  in  Epod.  12.  3.        durus  componere :  harsh  in  the 
composition.     For  the  construction  of  componere,  see  Introd.  §  46.  a. 

9.  hoc:  in  this  (i.e.  the  following)  respect. 

10.  ut  magnum  :  i.  e.  as  if  it  were  a  great  thing.    Explanatory  ut ; 
cf.  i.   1.   108.         stans  pede  in  uno :    i.e.   easily,  without  effort, 
apparently  proverbial.     Cf.  the  reverse  expression  in  Quint,  xii.  9.  18, 
in  his  actionibus  omni,  ut  agricolae  dicunt,  pede  standum  est. 

11.  flueret  lutulentus  :  i.  e.  like  a  stream  swollen  and  turbid  from 
the  spring  freshets,  whose  water  was  not  fit  to  use  until  it  had  been 
allowed  to  stand  for  a  while  and  settle.        tollere:  blot  out.     Cf. 
i.  10.  50,  fluere  hunc  lutulentum,  saepe  ferentem  Plura  quidem  tollenda 
relinquendis.        velles :  subjunctive  in  a  clause  of  characteristic,  that 
you  icished. 

12.  garrulus :  a  wordy  fellow  ;  returning  to  Lucilius  after  the  digres- 
sion in  lines  9-11.     Cf.  sermo  merus  in  line  48.     The  style  is  colloquial. 

13.  ut  multum :   i.e.  as  to  the  amount  of  his  work,   'as  to  its 


186  BOOK   I.     SERMO   4.  [PAGE  16. 

being  much.'        nilmoror:  I  don't  care  a  bit  for  that,  a  colloquial 
expression. 

14.  Crispinus  :  see  note  on  i.  1.  120.        minimo  :  sc.  pignore,  at 
long  odds,  i.e.  offering  a  large  wager  against  a  small  one,  the  opposite 
of  our  form  of  expression.     Cf.  Catull.  44.4,  quovis  Sabinum  pignore 
esse  contendunt ;  Virg.  Eel.  3.  31,  tu  die,  mecum  quo  pignore  certes. 
provocat :  challenges,  sc.  contendere,  and  cf.  note  on  minimo  above. 

15.  accipe  iam  :  the  repeated  imperative  shows  the  impatience  of 
Crispinus,  who  counts  on  an  easy  victory. 

16.  custodes  :  umpires,  to  see  that  there  was  a  fair  contest,  with- 
out cheating  or  misrepresentation. 

17.  di  bene  fecerunt:    i.e.  the  gods  be  thanked.        quodque: 
hyperbaton  ;   -que  really  connects  inopis  and  pusilli;  cf.  i.  6.  43;  i. 
8.  2  ;  ii.  3.  139,  etc. 

18.  loquentis  :  i.e.  so  that  I  speak  ;  loquentis  agrees  with  animi, 
a  loose  form  of  expression  characteristic  of  colloquial  speech. 

20.  molliat :  subjunctive  on  account  of  the  idea  of  expectation  or 
anticipation  ;  the  personal  and  impersonal  ideas  are  blended,  since  the 
person  and  the  thing  are   identified  with  each  other.     See  note  on 
Tantalus,  i.  1.  68. 

21.  beatus:  sc.  est.        Fannius:  a  parasite  of  Hermogenes  Tigel- 
lius  ;    cf.  i.  10.  80.         ultro  .  .  .  imagine :    Fannius,  without  being 
asked  to  do  so  (ultro},  proffers  his  books  to  be  read  ;   cf.  Epist.  i.  12. 
23,  si  quid  petet,  ultro  defer.     The  idea  seems  to  be  that  Fannius 
forces  his  works  on  a  reluctant  public,  but  is  happy  to  have  them  read 
under  any  circumstances.     The  books  are  kept  in  capsae,  or  cylin- 
drical boxes  for  holding  manuscript  rolls,  and  are  ornamented  with 
the  author's  portrait  (imagine'). 

22.  cum:  whereas;  adversative  cum;  cf.  i.  1.  38. 

23.  volgo  recitare :  i.e.  to  give  a  public  reading  to  invited  guests, 
a  custom  said  to  have  been  inaugurated  by  Asinius  Pollio.     Cf.  Sen. 
Contr.  4,  Praef .  2,  (Asinius  Pollio)  primus  omnium  Bomanorum  advo- 
catis  hominibus  scripta  sua  recitavit.     That  Horace  read  his  poems,  by 
request,  to  his  intimate  friends,  is  seen  from  line  73.        timentis : 
agrees  with  the  genitive  implied  in  mea  in  line  22. 

24.  genus  hoc  :  i.e.  scripta  hoc  genus,  satire.        pluris :  many,  the 
logical  subject  of  sunt,  attracted  to  the  case  of  quos  ;  hence  the  indica- 
tive iuvat. 

26.   ab  avaritia  :  on  account  of  avarice.        laborat :  suffers;  is 
troubled. 


PAGE  17.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  4.  187 

27.  capit:  fascinates,  i.e.  catches  his  fancy. 

28.  argenti  splendor  .  .  .  aere  :  cf.  Epist.  i.  6.  17.     In  aere,  the 
reference  is  doubtless  to  Corinthian  bronzes,  which  were  highly  prized. 
Cf.  Plin.  Epist.  in.  6;  iii.  1.  9.        stupet:  has  a  craze  for;  cf.  Plin. 
Epist.  iii.  1.  9,  sunt  in  usu  et  Corinthia,  quibus  delectatur  nee  adflcitur. 

29.  mutat  merces  :   carries  cargoes ;  the  regular  expression ;    cf. 
Virg.  Eel.  4.  38,  nee  nautica  pinus  mutabit  merces.        surgente  a 
sole  ad  eum  :  i.e.  from  the  far  east  to  the  west. 

30.  vespertina  .  .  .  regio :    sc.  caeli,  the  west,  i.e.  Italy.     Cf. 
Lucan,  vii.  17,  vespere  pacato.        quin  :  for  quin  etiam,  nay  more. 

32.  ampliet  ut :  that  he  may  not  increase,  depending  on  metuens, 
with  the  usual  meaning  of  ut  after  a  verb  of  fearing. 

33.  versus  .  .  .  poetas  :  used  in  a  general  sense.     On  account 
of  the  severity  of  satirists,  they  fear  and  hate  all  poets. 

34.  faenum  ...  in  cornu  :     at  Rome,    dangerous  cattle  were 
marked  this  way  when   driven  through  the  streets.      For  the  com- 
parison of  the  satirist  with  an  ugly  bull,  cf.  Epod.  6.  11,-  cave,  cave : 
namque  in  malos  asperrimus  Parata  tollo  cornua. 

35.  sibi  :  dative  of  advantage,  so-called  ;  at  his  witticisms. 

36.  chartis  inleverit:  scribbled  on  his  paper,  a  contemptuous  ex- 
pression. 

37.  furno:  the  (public)  bakery.        lacu:  the  water-tank,  for  the 
general  use  of  the  people.     Cf.  Plin.  JV.  H.  xxxvi.  121,  Agrippa  in 
aedilitat?  .  .  .  lacus  DCC  fecit. 

38.  pueros  et  anus :  slaves  and  old  women,  who  were  notorious 
sources  of  gossip. 

39.  primum  :  introduces  the  reply  to  odere  poetas  in  line  33  ;  the 
second  point  is  introduced  by  nunc  illud  quaeram,  in  line  64.        de- 
derim :  potential  subjunctive.    The  perfect  in  this  case  does  not  differ 
in  force  from  the  present. 

40.  concludere  versum :  to  write  verse  ;  for  verba  pedibus  clau- 
dendo  versum  efficere.     The  expression  for  '  prose '  is  oratio  soluta,  as 
opposed  to  pedibus  claudere. 

41.  dixeris:   you  would  not  say.      The  apodosis  of  the  protasis 
implied  in  concludere  versum. 

42.  sermoni  propiora :   more   like  ordinary  conversation.     Cf. 
Auct.  ad  Her.  iii.  13. 23,  sermo  est  oratio  remissa  etfinitima  cotidianae 
locutioni. 

43.  ingenium:    intellectual    gifts,  not   'genius,'   which  is  rare, 
mens  divinior  :  inspiration,  'the  divine  afflatus.'        os  magna  sona- 


188  BOOK  I.    SERMO  4.  [PAGE  17. 

turum :  the  power  of  lofty  expression  j  magna  is  accusative  of  the 
inner  object. 

45.  comoedia  .  .  .  necne  poema  esset:  cf.  Cic.   Orat.  20.  67, 
video  visum  esse  nonnullis,  Platonis  et  Democriti  locutionem,  etsi  absit 
aversu,  tamen,  quod  incitatius  feratur  et  clarissimis  verborum  lumini- 
bus  utatur,  potius  poema  putandum  quam  comicorum  poetarum. 

46.  acer  spiritus  ac  vis :  fiery  inspiration  and  vigor. 

47.  pede  certo :  the  regular  rhythm. 

48.  sermo  merus  :  it  being  in  fact  plain  prose,  in  apposition  with 
comoedia  in  line  45 ;  cf.  garrulus,  line  12  above.        at :  introduces 
the  words  of  a  defender  of  comedy  as  poetry  ;    cf.  Ars  Poet.  93  f. 
The  scene  which  follows  is  from  an  unknown  palliata,   or  comedy 
based  on  Greek  life.        ardens :  sc.  ira. 

49.  meretrice  .  .  .  arnica :  ablative  -ef  cause ;  cf.  Plaut.  ^Merc. 
443,  sanus  non  est  ex  amore  ;  447,  insanior  ex  amore. 

50.  filius  .  .  .  recuset :  a  common  incident  in  comedy. 

51.  ambulet :  sc.  in  publico.     Such  revels  were  common  enough  ; 
the  disgrace  consisted  in  carrying  them  on  publicly  in  broad  daylight. 

52.  Pomponius:    otherwise   unknown.      Evidently  a    notorious 
young  prodigal.    .     istis:  i.e.  those  to  which  you  refer,  quae  pater 
ardens  effundit. 

54.  puris  .   .   .  verbis  :    unadorned   language ;    sine  figuris   et 
magno  sono,  Ps-Acron. 

55.  quern  si  dissolvas :  i.e.  of  such  a  sort  that  if  you  should  write 
it  in  prose  order.     Dissolvas  means  to  free  from  the  trammels  of 
metre  ;  see  note  on  line  40. 

56.  personatus  .  .  .  pater  :  the  father  in  the  play,  i.e.  the  actor 
wearing  the  mask  of  a  father.     Masks  seem  to  have  been  worn  by 
comic  actors  soon  after  the  time  of  Terence.     The  figure  of  the  mask 
and  the  color  of  the  hair  differed  according  to  the  character  imper- 
sonated.    In  earlier  times  the  characters  were  distinguished  by  their 
wigs  and  their  dress.        his :  dative  of  separation  with  eripias.     In 
good  prose  we  should  have  his  rebus,  since  the  form  his  is  ambiguous 
as  regards  its  gender.    See  Introd.  §  49.  b.     ego  quae  mine :  sc. 
scribo,  implied  in  scripsit. 

58.  tempora  certa  modosque :  i.e.  the  rhythm  and  metre; 
cf.  pede  certo,  line  47.  The  features  which  gave  satire  the  outward 
form  of  poetry  were  the  metre,  the  caesura,  and  the  poetic  word  order, 
not  the  language. 

60.  solvaa  =  dissolvas ;  see  line  55.        postquam  .  .  .  refregit: 


PAGE  18.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  4.  189 

from  Ennius,  Annales,  270  V.,  evidently  alluding  to  the  opening  of 
the  temple  of  Janus.  Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vii.  607,  belli  ferratos  rumpit 
Saturnia  pastes.  If  this  verse  of  Elinius  should  be  written  in  prose 
order,  the  language  would  still  be  that  of  poetry. 

63.  alias  :  this  promise  was  kept  many^ears  later  by  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Ars  Poetica.  iustum  .  .  .  poema  :  i.e.  real  poetry ; 
sc.  quaeram  and  satura,  implied  in  hoc  genus  scribendi  in  line  5. 

65.  Sulcius  .  .  .  et   Caprius:  these  two  men  belonged  to  the 
class  which  made  a  business  of  bringing  criminals  to  justice  for  the 
sake  of  the  reward.     Though  less  objectionable  than  the  delatores  of 
later  times,  they  were  held  in  disrepute ;    cf.  Cic.  Brut.  34.  130,  M. 
Brutus,  in  quo  magnum  fuit,  Brute,  dedecus  generi  vestro  .  .  .  magi- 
stratus  non  petivit,  sed  fuit  accusator  vehemens  et  molestus;    De 
Off.  ii.  14.  50,  duri  hominis  vel  potius  vix  hominis  videtur  peri- 
culum  capitis  inferre  multis. 

66.  rauci  male :  very  hoarse,  or  with  unpleasantly  hoarse  voices, 
from  constant  and  vehement  pleading  in  court.     Cf.   male  laxus, 
i.  3.  31.        libellis:   indictments,   i.e.  note-books   containing  their 
accusations. 

69.  ut  sis  tu  :  suppose  you  are,  concessive  ut :  cf.  Ter.  Hec.  296, 
ut  tacean  .  quoivis  facile  scitu  est  quam  fuerim  miser.    Note  the  em- 
phatic tu. 

70.  sim :  potential  subjunctive.        Capri  neque  Sulci  :  sc.  similis. 

71.  taberna :      book-stall.        habeat :      optative      subjunctive. 
pila:  one  of  the  pillars  which  separated  the  arcade  in   which  the 
book-stall  was  located  from  the  street.     On  these  were  hung  lists  of 
the  books  for  sale  within.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  373;  Mart.  i.  117.  10  :  — 

Contra  Caesaris  est  forum  taberna. 
Scriptis  postibus  hinc  et  inde  totis 
Omnes  ut  cito  perlegas  poetas. 

A  prominent  firm  of  booksellers  at  Rome  was  that  of  the  Sosii, 
Epist.  i.  20.  2.  meos :  emphatic,  contrasting  Horace's  libelli  with 
those  of  Sulcius  and  Caprius.  libellos :  humble  works.  The 
diminutive  is  chosen  for  the  sake  of  a  play  on  the  double  meaning 
of  libelli ;  cf.  line  66. 

72.  quis  :  dative.    See  note  on  qui,  i.  1. 1.        quis  .  .  .  insudet: 
the  subjunctive  has  a  final  force,  for  the  hands  of  the  vulgar  to  soil. 
Hermogenis  Tigelli :  the  optimus  modulator  of  i.  3.  129  ;  not  the 
same  as  the  Tigellius  of  i.  3.  3.    The  transposition  of  the  nomen  and 


190  BOOK  I.     SERMO  4.  [PAGE  18. 

cognomen  is  rare  in  classical  prose,  but  very  common  in  later  Latin. 
It  never  occurs  where  all  three  names  are  given  ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  2.  3 ; 
Serm.  i.  6.  12  ;  i.  7.  1. 

73.  aniicis  :  i.e.  not  volgo ;  cf.  line  23  and  the  note.  idque 
coactus  :  and  that  only  on  compulsion. 

75.  lavantes  :  i.e.  in  the  public  baths.  Cf.  Petron.  92,  dum  lavor, 
paene  vapulavi,  quia  conatus  sum  circa  solium  sedentibus  carmen 
recitare. 

77.  illud  :  referring  to  the  following  num  .  .  .  faciant.       sensu  : 
sc.  communi,  and  cf.  i.  3.  66. 

78.  alieno  :  unseasonable.        laedere  gaudes :  the  reply  of  the 
imaginary  opponent.     Cf.  Lucil.  913  L.,  Gaudes,  cum  de  me  ista  foris 
sermonibus  differs,  Et  male  dicendo  in  multis  sermonibus  differs. 

79.  hoc  :  accusative,  referring  to  laedere.         studio  :  purposely. 
Cf.  Cic.  Rose.  Am.  91,  ut  omnes  intellegant  me  non  studio  accusare, 
sed  officio  defendere.         pravus  :    predicate  adjective  =  cum  pravus 
sis.        petitum  :  the  participle,  —  where  have  you  found  this  charge 
to  make  against  me  ? 

80.  quis :  any  one;  for  aliquis,  on  account  of  the  implied  num. 
denique  :  in  short,  i.e.  not  to  go  over  a  list  of  all  the  possible  sources 
of  the  criticism. 

81.  cum  quibus  :  Horace  does  not  use  cum  in  the  enclitic  position 
with  relatives  ;    cf.    Odes,  ii.  7.  6.        absentem  :    behind  his  back, 
lit.  in  his  absence.        rodit :  backbites,  slanders. 

82.  qui  non  defendit :    cf.  lines  94-103.     The  final  syllable  of 
defendit  is  here  long.     This  is  not  a  reminiscence  of  an  original  long 
quantity,  but  is  doubtless  due  to  the  analogy  of  such  cases.     Cf.  figit, 
Odes,  iii.  24.  5  ;  agit,  Serm.  ii.  3.  260 ;  and  see  Introd.  §  57.  d. 

84.  commissa  tacere :    keep  a  secret;   cJ\Epist.  i.  18.  70,  nee 
retinent  patulae  commissa  Jideliter  aures. 

85.  niger :   black-hearted,  a  scoundrel,  in  contrast  with  animae 
candidae;  cf.  i.  5.  41.     Cf.  Cic.   Caec.  10.  27,  Phormio,  nee  minus 
niger  nee  minus  confldens  quam  ille  Terentianus.       hunc  .  .  .  caveto  : 
a  parody  of  an  oracular  utterance ;  cf.  Liv.  xxv.  12.  5,  amnem,  Tro- 
.iugena,  fuge  Cannam. 

86.  videas  :  you  can  see  ;  an  example  of  the  relatively  rare  '  can  '- 
potential ;  see  Introd.  §  45.  c.         quaternos  :  i.e.  four  on  each  of  the 
three  couches.     Ordinarily  three  was  the  maximum  number  ;  cf.  ii.  8, 
Outline. 

87.  aspergere  :  slander,  lit.  besprinkle  ;  used  in  the  same  figurative 


PAGE  19.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  4.  191 

sense  by  Auct.  ad  Her.  iv.  49.  62,  circum  inspectans  hue  et  illuc,  si 
quern  reperiat  cui  aliquid  mail  .  .  .  lingua  aspergere  possit. 

88.  qui  praebet  aquam :  i.e.  the  host  (convivator,  ii.  8.  73)  who 
had  water  passed  around  among  his  guests  at  the  beginning  of  the 
dinner  ;  cf.  Petr.  31,  tandem  discubuimus,  pueris  Alexandrinis  aquam 
in  manus  nivatam  infundentibus  ;  or  used  of  the  hot  and  cold  water 
furnished  for  mixing  with  the  wine  ;  cf.  Juv.  v.  63,  quando  rogatus 
adest  calidae  gelidaeque  minister  9        hunc  :  sc.  aspergere  amat. 

89.  aperit  .  .  .  Liber:  cf.  Odes,  iii.  21. 13  ff.       praecordia  :  re- 
garded as  the  seat  of  the  feelings.     We  should  say  '  heart.' 

90.  liber :  frank ;  cf.  libertate,  line  5. 

91.  nigris  :  cf.  niger,  line  85. 

92.  pastilles  :    accusative  of  the  inner  object.      The   word  is  a 
diminutive,  cognate  with  panis.     For  the  meaning,  cf.  Mart.  i.  87.  1, 
Ne  gravis  hesterno  fragres,  Fescennia,  vino,  Pastillos  Cosmi  luxuriosa 
voras. 

94.  Capitolini  :  Porph.  says :  Petillius  Capitulinus  cum  Capitoli 
curam  ageret,  coronae  subreptae  de  Capitulio  causam  dixit  absolutus- 
que  a  Caesare  est.  It  is  known  that  Petillius  Capitolinus  was  accused 
of  theft  and  acquitted  in  spite  of  strong  evidence  against  him.  The 
charge  mentioned  by  Porph.  may  well  have  been  invented  to  account 
for  the  name  Capitolinus,  since  the  crime  was  a  proverbial  one  ;  cf. 
Plaut.  Trin.  83,  Nam  mine  ego  si  te  surrupuisse  suspicer  lorn  coronam 
de  capite  ex  Capitolio ;  Men.  941,  at  ego  te  sacram  coronam  surru- 
puisse lovi  scio. 

96.  me  .  .  .  amicoque :  a  hypermetric  verse.  Horace  has  but 
one  other  in  his  hexameters  (i.  6.  102).  Such  lines  occur  several  times 
in  the  Odes  (e.g.  iv.  2.  22)  and  are  not  uncommon  in  Virgil,  especially 
with  lines  ending  in  -que. 

98.   in  urbe  :  instead  of  being  in  exile. 

100.  nigrae  :  with  reference  to  line  85.        sucus  lolliginis :  cf. 
Plin.  N.  H.  ix.  84,  (saepiae)  ubi  sensere  se  adprehendi,  effuso  atra- 
mento,  quod  pro  sanguine  his  est,  infuscata  aqua  absco?iduntur. 

101.  aerugo  :   malice,  lit.  verdigris.     Cf.   Mart.  x.  33.  5,  viridi 
tinctos  aerugine  versus.        quod  =  at  id;  cf.  quae,  i.  1.  36. 

102.  prius  :  before  that,  i.e.  he  will  not  even  think  such  things, 
much  less  write  them  down.         ut  si  quid  :  i.e.  ut  promitto,  si  quid. 

104.  hoc  mihi  iuris :  this  privilege,  which  is  my  right ;  iuris  is 
genitive  of  the  whole,  governed  by  hoc. 

105.  dabis:  future  with  the  force  of  a  mild  imperative.        in- 


192  BOOK   I.     SERMO  4.  [PAGE  19. 

suevit :  with  a  double  accusative,  after  the  analogy  of  verbs  of  teach- 
ing. Cf.  adsuescere  with  the  accusative  and  the  ablative  of  association 
(or  the  dative),  ii.  2.  109.  hoc  :  i.e.  liberius  dicere. 

106.  ut  fugerem  :  depends  on  notando.  vitiorum  quaeque : 
may  be  taken  both  with  fugerem  and  notando,  dirb  KOIVOV.  Cf.  illis,  i. 
1.  20. 

109.  ut  male  .  .  .  vivat :    how  wretchedly  young  Albius  lives, 
in  a  material,  not  in  a  moral,  sense.     The  reference  is  perhaps  the 
same  as  in  line  28. 

110.  Baius :    a  Roman  gentile  name,  known  from  inscriptions. 
Nothing    further  is  known  about    the  individual    mentioned    here, 
documentum  :  lesson  (cf.  docere) ;  in  apposition  with  the  preceding 
wi-clause  ;  cf.  sermo  merus,  line  48. 

112.    Scetani  :  otherwise  unknown.  . 

115.  sapiens  :  your  philosopher;  see  note  on  i.  1.  38. 

116.  causas  reddet :  will  explain. 

118.  custodis :  i.e.  a  paedagogus.  See  i.  6.  81,  Ipse  mihi  custos 
incorruptissimus  omnis  Circum  doctores  aderat.  vitam  :  health. 

120.  nabis  sine  cortice  :  a  proverbial  expression  ;  cf.  Plaut.  Aul. 
595,  Quasi  pueri  qui  nare  discunt  scirpea  induitur  ratis,  qui  laborent 
minus,  facilius  ut  nent  et  moveant  manus. 

121.  formabat :    moulded,  a  very  common  metaphor ;   cf.  Epist. 
ii.  1.  128  ;   ii.  2.  8  ;  Cic.   Arch.  3.,  4,   ut  primum   ex  pueris  excessit 
Archias  atque  ab  eis  artibus  quibus  aetas  puerilis  ad  humanitatem 
informari  solet.        iubebat :  sc.  aliquid,  since  Horace  does  not  use 
an  w£-clause  with  iubere ;  ut  facerem  quid  depends  on  the  verb  of  say- 
ing implied  with  habes  auctorem.    The  apodosis  to  sive  iubebat  is  not 
obiciebat,  but  the  verb  of  saying  understood  in  line  122.     The  style  is 
strongly  colloquial. 

122.  quo  :  in  accordance  with  which. 

123.  iudicibus  selectis  :  the  list  of  those  from  whom  jurors  were 
selected,  recorded  in  the  album  iudicum.    At  this  time  senators, 
equites,  and  tribuni  aerarii  were  eligible  for  such  service.     On  their 
qualifications,  see  Cic.  Cluent.  43.  121,  praetores  urbani,  qui  iurati 
debent  optimum  quemque  in  lectos  iudices  referre. 

126.  avidos:     gluttons;    the    adjective    is    used    substantively., 
vicinum  funus :  i.e.  vicinifunus;  cf.  aliena  opprobria,  line  128. 

127.  sibi  parcere  :  i.e.  look  out  for  their  health,  by  refraining 
from  over-eating;  cf.  Epist.   i.  7.  11,  Ad  mare  descendet  vates  tuus 
et  sibi  parcet. 


PAGE  20.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  4.  193 

128.  aliena  =  aliis  obiecta. 

129.  ex  hoc  :  sc.  more  patris,  on  account  of  this  early  training. 
sanus  ab  illis  :  sc.  vitas,  free  from  those  faults. 

130.  perniciem  :  danger  to  life  and  health  ;  cf.  line  118.        quis 
ignoscas  :  sc.  vitiis,  pardonable  faults.    See  i.  3.  20  and  140 ;  i.  6.  65. 
Quis  is  dative ;  cf.  line  72  above.    The  subjunctive  is  a  potential 
characterizing  clause,  being  parallel  with  the  adjective  mediocribus. 

131.  istinc  :  i.e.  ex  istis  vitiis. 

132.  abstulerit :    used  absolutely ;  cf.  aufers,  ii.  3.  127  ;  aufer, 
ii.  3.  236.        liber  :  outspoken,  frank;  cf.  line  90. 

133.  consilium  proprium  :  communion  with  myself.       lectulus  : 
lmy  own  little  bed,"1  where  he  lay  and  reflected,  or  perhaps  a  couch  for 
studying  (lectus  lucubratorius).    Note  the  force  of  the  diminutive ;  cf. 
Cic.  Cat.  i.  4.  9 ;  Ov.  Trist.  i.  11.  37  :  — 

'  Non  haec  in  nostris,  ut  quondam,  scribimus  hortis, 
Nee,  consuete,  meum,  lectule,  corpus  habes.1 

134.  porticus :  the  colonnades  were  favorite  resorts,  especially  in 
bad  weather,  or  in  the  heat  of  the  day.     This  was  particularly  true  of 
the  porticus  adjoining  Pompey's  theatre  ;  cf.  Catull.  55.  3  f. :  — 

'  Te  campo  quaesivimus  minore, 
Te  in  circo,  te  in  omnibus  libellis 
Te  in  templo  sumnii  lovis  sacrato. 
In  Magni  simul  ambulatione 
Femellas  omnes,  amice,  prendi.' 

desum  mihi :  neglect  myself;  cf.  i.  9.  56.    ii.  1.  17.    He  tries  to  cor- 
rect his  faults  by  meditating  on  them,  as  well  as  on  those  of  others. 

135.  dulcis   .   .   .  occurram:    i.e.  be  agreeable  to  the  friends 
whom  I  meet. 

136.  quidam  :  so  and  so.        non  belle  :  sc.  fecit. 

137.  olim  :  ever.     See  note  on  i.  1.  25. 

138.  compressis   .  .  .    labris:    a  sign  of  earnest  thought.     Cf. 
Pers.  iii.  82,  exporrecto  trutinantur  verba  labello. 

139.  inludo  cuartis:  /  amuse  myself  by  putting  my  thoughts  on 
.  paper,  cf.  i.  10.  37,  haec  ego  ludo.        mediocribus  illis  :  see  line  130 

above. 

140.  concedere  :  cf.  line  143,  and  note  the  play  on  the  two  mean- 
ings of  the  word. 

143.   ludaei :  Jews  were  numerous  in  Rome  in  Horace's  day  and 


194  BOOK   I.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  21. 

very  active  in  marking  converts.  Of.  Cic.  Place.  28.  66,  sets,  quanta 
sit  (ludaeorum)  manus,  quanta  concordia.  quantum  valeant  in  con- 
tionibus. 

SERMO  V. 

1.  magna  .  .  .  Roma  :  the  adjective  emphasizes  the  contrast  be- 
tween  Rome   and    the    little   village   with    its    hospitium    modicum. 
Aricia  :  sixteen  miles  *•  southeast  of  Rome,  on  the  lower  slope  of  the 
Alban  Hills.     It  was  about  three  miles  from  the  celebrated  temple  and 
grove  of  Diana,  on  the  lacus  Nemorensis.    See  Macaulay,  Lake  Re- 
gillus,  171  ff.:  — 

'  From  the  still  glassy  lake  that  sleeps 
Beneath  Aricia's  trees  — 
Those  trees  in  whose  dim  shadow 
The  ghastly  priest  doth  reign, 
The  priest  who  slew  the  slayer, 
And  shall  himself  be  slain. ' 

2.  hospitio  modico  :  a  modest  inn;  cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  23.  84,  ex  vita 
ita  discedo  tamquam  ex  hospitio,  non   tamquam  ex  domo.    Judging 
from  the  references  in  literature,  and  from  the  ruins  of  inns  found  at 
Pompeii,  they  were  never  very  attractive  ;  cf.   Epist.  i.  11.  11,  neque 
qui  Capua  Homam  petit  imbre  lutoque  Aspersus  volet  in  caupona 
vivere.    The  well-to-do  traveller  usually  had  friends  with  whom  he 
could  stop.        Heliodorus  :    unknown,  except  for  this  reference  of 
Horace. 

3.  Graecorum  .  .  .  doctissimus  :  an  exaggerated  expression  char- 
acteristic of  the  mock-heroic  style  which   Horace  adopts  in  several 
parts  of  this  satire  (see  notes  on  lines  9,  20,  51,  73),  a  form  of  wit 
common  in  modern  times.        inde  :  next.        Forum  Appi :  twenty- 
seven  miles  beyond  Aricia,  at  the  beginning  of  the  Pomptine  marshes. 
A  canal  led  from  there  to  the  spring  and  grove  of  Feronia,  about  six- 
teen miles  away. 

4.  differtum :  crowded,  lit.  stuffed,  apparently  a  colloquial  word, 
used    in    a   humorous   sense ;    cf.  Epist.  i.   6.  59,   differtum  forum ; 
Caes.  B.   C.  iii.  32.  4,  erat  plena  lictorum  et  imperiorum  provincia, 
differta  praefectis  atque  exactoribus.        nautis  :  boatmen,  not  *  sail- 
ors.'       malignis :   grasping,  extortionate,  contrasted  with  benignus 
in  the  sense  of  generous;  cf.  i.  1.  29,  perfidus  caupo. 

1  All  the  distances  are  given  in  Roman  miles,  =  4854  feet. 


PAGE  22.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  5.  195 

5.  hoc  iter  :  i.e.  the  forty-three  miles  from  Rome  to  Forum  Appi. 
ignavi :    since  we  were  inclined  to  take  things  easily.    For  the  adjec- 
tive with  causal  force,  cf.  i.  3.  85,  acerbus  odisti ;  i.  4.  79,  pravus 
fads.        altius  .  .  .  praecinctis  :  for  more   rapid   travellers,  evi- 
dently a  general  expression,  though  derwed  originally  from  travel  on 
foot.     It  does  not  appear  to  occur  elsewhere.     When  a  Roman  wished 
to  walk  rapidly,  he  would  naturally  gird  his  tunic  high,  to  leave  the 
legs  free.        ac  :  than.    Horace  is  the  first  to  use  atque  (ac)  in  this 
sense  after  a  comparative  without  a  preceding  negative  (Cic.  ad  Alt. 
xiii.  3   is  doubtful).     The   usage  is  apparently  colloquial.     It  occurs 
frequently  in  the  Sermones,  e.g.  i.  6.  130  ;  i.  10.  59  ;   etc. 

6.  unum  :   sc.  iter,  a  single  day's  journey.        minus  est  gravis  : 
because  the  road  was  paved  with  large  blocks  of  stone,  which  would 
cause  a  carriage,    if  driven  rapidly,  to  jolt  badly.     It  is  difficult  to 
see  how  this  expression  can  refer  to  any  other  mode  of  travelling, 
though  there  is  no  mention  of  mules  or  carriages,  as  in  other  parts 
of  the  Satire.        Appia:  used  as  a  substantive,  with  ellipsis  of  via; 
cf.  Epod.  4.  14,  Appiam  mannis  terit. 

7.  hie  :  here,  i.e.  at  Forum  Appi.        aquam  :  Porph.  says,  hodie- 
que  Foro  Appi  viatores  propter  aquam,  quae  ibi  deterrima  est,  ma- 
nere  vitant.    The  meaning  doubtless  is  that  the  water  was  too  bad  to 
drink,  even  when  mixed  with  wine. 

8.  indico  bellum  :  declare  war  against ;  a  humorous  metaphor. 
Since  the  reference  is  clearly  to  the  water  of  Forum  Appi,  the  mean- 
ing is  that  Horace  took  no  dinner,  or  perhaps  ate  lightly,  because  he 
did  not  venture  to  risk  drinking  the  water. 

9.  comites  :  i.e.  his  fellow-travellers.        iam  nox,  etc. :  epic  dic- 
tion, used  humorously  ;  see  note  on  Graecorum  .  .  .  doctissimus,  line  3. 

10.  signa :   i.e.  the  constellations;   cf.  Odes,  ii.  8.  10,  taciturna 
noctis  signa. 

11.  pueri :  the  slaves  of  the  travellers. 

12.  ingerere  :  historical  infinitive,  not  common  in  Horace  ;  cf.  i. 
9.  9 ;  Epist.  i.  1.  67.        hue  appelle  .  .  .  satis  est :  apparently  not 
a  dialogue,  but  the  words  of  the  pueri,  those  of  the  boatmen  being 
omitted.         trecentos :    used  of    an  indefinite  large  number ;    cf. 
Odes,  ii.  14.  5 ;  iii.  4.  79.     See  Introd.  §  50. 

13.  aes  :  the  money,  i.e.  the  fare  (naulum).        ligatur :   appar- 
ently =  navigio  adligatur. 

15.  somnos  :  sleep;  for  the  plural    cf.   Odes,  i.  25.  3;  ii.  16.  15; 
Epod.  5.  96.        ut :  while. 


196  BOOK  I.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  22. 

16.  prolutus  :  soaked.  Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  739,  ille  impiger  hausit 
Spumantem  pateram  et  plena  se  proluit  auro.  vappa  :  see  note  on 
i.  1.  104.  viator  :  Porph.  understood  this  word  to  refer  collectively 
to  all  the  passengers.  It  seems  more  probable  that  it  refers  to  one  of 
them. 

18.  pastum :   supine.         retinacula :    the    traces,  by  means  of 
which  the  mule  towed  the  boat. 

19.  saxo :  instrumental  ablative. 

20.  iamque  .  .  .  aderat  .  .  .  cum  .  .  .  sentimus  :  a  good  ex- 
ample of  '  cum  inversum '  ;  B.  288,  2.     Here,  too,  we  have  a  parody 
of  the  heroic  style  ;  see  note  on  line  3. 

21.  donee  :  and  then,    cerebrosus:   hot-tempered;   cf.  i.  9.  11, 
0  te,  Bolane,  cerebri  felicem  !        prosilit :  i.e.  jumps  out  of  the  boat. 
unus  =  quidam,  a  unique  use  of  the  word. 

22.  saligno  fuste  :   a  willow  cudgel,   doubtless  from  one  of  the 
trees  growing  along  the  bank  of  the  canal. 

23.  dolat :  belabors,  a  colloquial  expression.    The  word  is  usually 
used  of  hewing  timber,  and  occurs  only  here  in  this  sense.         quarta 
vix  bora:  i.e.  it  was  fully  ten  o'clock.    The  Roman  hora  was  one- 
twelfth  of  the  period  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  and  hence  differed   in 
length  at  various  seasons  of   the  year.     Its  greatest  duration  was 
seventy-five  and  one-half  minutes ;  its  least,  forty-two  and  one-half. 
exponimur :    we  are  landed;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi.  416,  virum  informi 
limo  glaucaque  exponit  in  ulva. 

24.  lavimus  :   poetic   and  ante-classical  form  for  lavamus.     Cf. 
Odes,  ii.  13.  18.        Feronia :  an  ancient  Italian  goddess,  identified 
with  Juno,  and  hence  called  Juno  Feronia.      Her  temple  was  three 
miles  north  of  Terracina. 

25.  pransi :  after  having  breakfasted.        repimus  :  crawl,  mak- 
ing slow  progress  on  account  of  the  steep  road.     The  travellers  were 
in  no  haste,  since  they  were  to  wait  for  Maecenas  and  his  party  at 
Anxur. 

26.  Anxur  :  the  old  Volscian  name  for  Terracina.    Anxur,  how- 
ever, was  at  the  top  of  the  hill,   while  the  Roman  city  lay  at  its 
base. 

27.  venturus  erat:  probably  from  a  conference  with  Octavian, 
held  perhaps  at  Lanuvium,  a  favorite  resort  of  his.     Cf.  Suet.  Any. 
72,   ex  secessions  praecipue  frequentavit  maritima  insulasque  Cam- 
paniae,  aut  proxima  urbi  oppida,  Lanuvium,  Praeneste,  Tibur. 

28.  Cocceius :  L.  Cocceius  Nerva,  consul  suffectus  in  39  B.C.,  who 


PAGE  22.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  5.  197 

assisted  in  making  the  treaty  of  Brundisium  in  40  B.C.  M.  Cocceius 
Nerva,  who  may  have  been  a  brother  of  Lucius,  was  great-grandfather 
of  the  emperor  Nerva. 

29.  aversos  .  .  .  componere  amicos  :  to  bring  together  friends 
who  were  estranged.    The  reference  is  to  the  reconciliation  of  Octa- 
vian  and  Antony  by  the  treaty  of  Brundisium  in  40  B.C.     See  Introd. 
to  the  Satire.         soliti :  because  they  had  already  done  it  once. 

30.  lippus  :  see  note  on  i.  1.  120. 

31.  interea  :  i.e.  while  Horace  was  attending  to  his  eyes. 

32.  Capito  Fonteius:   consul  in  33  B.C.      He  was  a  friend  and 
partisan  of    Antony,   whom  he   afterwards  accompanied  to   Syria, 
whence  he  was  sent  on  a  mission  to  Cleopatra.     On  the  transposition 
of  the  nomen  and  cognomen,  see  note  on  i.  3.  72.        ad  unguem  fac- 
tus  homo  :   a  polished  gentleman.     Porph.  says :   translatio  a  mar- 
morariis  qui  iuncturas  marmorum  turn  demum  perfectas  dicunt^  si 
unguis  superductus  non  offendat.      Unde  iam  quaecumque  perfectis- 
sima  esse  volumus  significare,  ad  unguem  facta  dicimus.     Of.  Ars 
Poet.  294,  castigavit  ad  unguem. 

33.  Antoni  .  .  .  amicus  :   a  bosom  friend  of  Antony.     Sc.  sit, 
and  cf.  Nepos,  Epam.  2.  1,  eruditus  sic  ut  nemo  Thebanus  magis  ;  Cic. 
de  Fin.  i.  4.  11,  scripta  multa  sunt,  sic  ut  plura  nemini  e  nostris. 

34.  Fundos  :    about  twelve  miles  from  Anxur.        Aufidio  .  .  . 
praetore :  in  the  praetorship  of  Aufidjus  Luscus,  a  satirical  expres- 
sion, as  if  the  vain  'praetor'  were  as  important  as  a  Roman  consul. 
The  chief  magistrates  of  the  municipia  had  various  titles,  of  which 
the  most  common  was  duoviri.     According  to  C.  I.  L.  i.  1187  f.,  the 
chief  magistrates  at  Fundi  were  three  aediles.     Praetore  may  be  used 
for  metrical  reasons ;  Horace  frequently  uses  praetor  as  a  typical  des- 
ignation for  a  magistrate,  and  twice  employs  the  word  in  a  general 
sense  ;  see  Serm.  i.  7.  18 ;  Epist.  ii.  2.  34. 

35.  scribae  :   clerk,   the  humble  office  from  which  Aufidius  had 
risen.     Cf.  Suet.  Vesp.  3  (of  Vespasian's  father-in-law),  nee  quicquam 
amplius  quam  quaestorio  scriba  (genitus}. 

36.  praetextam    .    .    .    clavum :  the  toga  praetexta,  the  broad 
purple  stripe  on  the  tunic  (latus  clavus},  and  the  torches  borne  be- 
fore him,  were  rightful  insignia  of  Aufidius.     He  is  ridiculed  for  the 
display  of  them  which  his  vanity  led  him  to  make,      pmnae  .  .  . 
vatillum  :    a  pan  of  coals  for  lighting  the  torches  (see  previous  note). 
Although  it  was  broad  daylight,  Aufidius  paraded  this  with  his  other 
insignia. 


198 


BOOK   I.     SERMO  5. 


[PAGE  22. 


37.  Mamurrarum    .    .  .    urbe  :    Formiae,    about  thirteen   miles 
from  Fundi.     Mamurra  was  a  friend  of  Julius  Caesar,  and  had  ac- 
quired great  wealth  in  Gaul.     Catull.  41.  4  calls  him  decoctor  Formi- 
anus,  '  the  bankrupt  of  Formiae.'     Formiae  does  not  fit  into  dactylic 
verse  ;  hence  the  paraphrase.     Of.  line  87  below. 

38.  Murena  :   L.   Licinius  Terentius  Varro   Murena,  afterwards 
brother-in-law  of  Maecenas  ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  10.     He  and  Capito  evidently 
had  villas  on  the  shore  at  Formiae,  which  was  a  favorite  resort.     Cf. 
Mart.  x.  30.  1,  O  temperatae  dulce  Formiae  litus. 

40.  Plotius  .  .  .  Varius  :  M.  Plotius  Tucca  and  L.  Varius,  who 
edited  the  Aeneid  after  Virgil's  death.    On  the  latter,  cf.   Odes,  i.  6  ; 
Serm.  i.  6.  55.         Sinuessae  :  eighteen  miles  from  Formiae. 

41.  animae  :  souls.        qualis  neque  candidiores  terra  tulit : 
the  fairest  earth  ever  produced.     The  expression  qualis  candidiores 
seems  to  be  a  combination  of  quibus  candidiores  and  quales  candidis- 
simas.     For  similar  combinations,  cf.  i.  3.  9  and  121. 

42.  quis  :  dative. 

44.  contulerim  :  potential  subjunctive.     The  tense  does  not  differ 
in  force  from  the  present ;  cf.  dederim,  i.  4.  39.         sanus  :  while  I  am 
in  my  senses;  quam  diu  sana  mente  sum,  Porph.     Sanus  serves  as  the 
protasis  of  contulerim. 

45.  Campano  ponti :   a  bridge  over  the  Savo,  not  far  from  the 
Campanian  frontier.         villula  :  a  post-house,  for  the  reception  of 
travellers  on  public  business. 

46.  parochi :  it  was  their  duty  to  supply  those  who  put  up  at  the 
villula  with  the  necessaries  of  life,  here  expressed  typically  by  ligna 
salemque.     Cf.  Cic.  ad  Att.  V..16.  3,  scito  non  modo  nos  faenum,  aut 
quod  lege  Julia  dari  solet,  non  accipere,  sed  ne  ligna  quidem;  nee 
praeter  guattuor  lectos  et  tectum  quemquam  accipere  quidquam. 

47.  Capuae  :  as  the  distance  was  short  (about  seventeen  miles), 
the  travellers  arrived  betimes  (tempore~),  and  Maecenas  had  time  for  a 
game  of  ball  before  the  cena.    The  modern  Capua  is  three  miles 
nearer  to  Rome  than  the  ancient  city. 

48.  lusum :  sc.  pila,  and  cf.  note  on  line  49. 

49.  pila :  instrumental  ablative  ;  see  B.  218.  7.        lippis  ;  refer- 
ring to  Horace  ;  cf.  line  30  above.     That  his  condition  was  not  always 
so    bad   is  shown  by  the  description   of  his  habits  in   i.  6.    123  ff. 
crudis  :    dyspeptics,  referring  to  Virgil.     Donatus  (p.  59  R.)  says: 
(Vergilius}  plerumque  a  stomacho   et  a  faucibus  ac  dolore  capit 
laborabat.    Horace's  care  of  himself  is  in  accordance  with  the  dii 


PAGE  23.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  5.  199 

tions  of  Celsus,  i.  2  :  qui  parum  (concoxit)  requiescere  debet,  et  si 
mane  surgendi  necessitas  fuerit  redormire  ;  qui  non  concoxit,  ex 
toto  conquiescere  ac  neque  exercitationi  neque  negotiis  credere. 

50.  Coccei :  see  line  32  above.        plenissima  :  well-stocked.    Cf. 
Juv.  viii.  100,  plena  damns  tune  omnis. 

51.  super:    i.e.   it  was  situated  on  the  hills  above  the  town. 
Caudi  :    in   Samnium,    twenty-one  miles   east   of   Capua.       It  was 
the  scene  of  the  inglorious  defeat  of  the  Romans  by  the  Samnites  in 
321  B.C.         mine  mini :  the  account  of  the  contest  between  the  two 
buffoons  is  given  in  the  mock-heroic  style,  opening  with  an  invocation 
to  the  muse  ;  cf.  lines  3  and  9  above. 

52.  Sarmenti :    Sarmentus  probably  belonged    to  the    suite  of 
Maecenas.     Quint,  vi.  3.  58  gives  a  specimen  of  his  wit  :    Sarmentus 
sen  P.  Blessius  lulium,  hominem   nigrum   et  macrum   et  pandum, 
'fibulamf err  earn"1  dixit.         Cicirrus  :  the  game-cock,  probably  a  local 
wit.     The  cognomen  is  Oscan,  and  is  perhaps  onomatopoetic,  repre- 
senting the  crowing  of  a  cock. 

54.  clarum   genus  :   ironical,  since  the  Oscan-speaking  Italiotes 
were  despised  by  the  Romans,  as  the  descendants  of  an  inferior  race. 
Osci  is  nominative  plural,  predicate  to  genus. 

55.  domina  exstat:    i.e.  he  had  been  a  slave  (filius  nullius)  and 
had  no  lineage. 

56.  equi  feri:  the  unicorn,  described  as  follows  by  Plin.  N.  JST.viii. 
76  :    asperrimam  feram  monocerotem,  reliquo  corpore  equo  similem, 
capite  cervo,  pedibus  elephanto,  cauda  apro,  mugitu  gram,  uno  cornu 
nigro  media  fronte  cubitorum  duorum  eminente.     Messius  is  likened  to 
this  monster,  on  account  of  his  size  and  ugliness,  as  well  as  on  account 
of  the  scar  mentioned  in  line  60.     For  a  similar  comparison,  cf.  Lucil. 
82  L. ,  Broncus  Bovillanus,  dente  adverso  eminulo  hie  est,  Rhinoceros 
velut  Aethiopus. 

58.  accipio  :  I  admit  it.  caput  movet :  playfully  imitating 
the  unicorn.  cornu  exsecto  :  ablative  of  quality,  used  predica- 
tively.  He  had  had  a  wen  cut  from  his  forehead.  The  Comm.  Cruq. 
says  :  hoc  enim  quasi  a  natura  Campanis  fere  omnibus  inest,  ut 
capitis  temporibus  magnae  verrucae  innascantur,  in  modum  cornuum, 
quo*  cum  incidi  faciunt,  cicatrices  in  fronte  manent,  quasi  notae 
exsectorum  cornuum. 

SO.  sic  mutilus :  i.e.  dehorned  though  you  are.  at:  and  in 
fact ;  cf.  i.  3.  27.  The  contrast  is  between  the  actual  state  of  affairs 
and  the  joke  of  Sarmentus,  which  exaggerated  it. 


200  BOOK   I.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  23. 

61.  laevi  oris:  the  left  side  of  his  face.     A  use  of  the  adjective 
similar  to  that  in  summits  mons,  'the  top  of  the  mountain,'  etc. 

62.  in  faciem  :  on  his  personal  appearance. 

63.  pastorem  .  .  .  Cyclopa :    accusative   of   the   inner   object  ; 
cf.  Veil.  Paterc.  ii.  73,  Plancus  .  .  .  cum  Glaucum  saltasset  in  con- 
vivio  ;  Juv.  vi.  63,  Ledam  molli  saltante  Bathyllo.    See  Introd.  §  38.  b. 
The  dance  was  pantomimic,    doubtless  representing  the   wooing  of 
Galatea  by  the  Cyclops,  Polyphemus. 

64.  larva  .  .  .  coturnis,  i.e.  he  was  big  and  ugly  enough  to  play 
the  part  without  any  paraphernalia.     Coturnis  is  the  regular  spelling 
in  the  Mss.  of  Horace.        esse  :  infinitive  in  indirect  discourse  ;  the 
verb  of  saying  is  implied  in  rogabat. 

65.  donasset  .  .  .  catenam  :  a  joke  on  the  former  servitude  of 
Sarmentus.     Slaves  when  manumitted  made  an  offering  to  the  lares, 
or  household  gods  ;    so  a  runaway  slave  from  the  chain-gang  might 
facetiously  be  supposed  to  make  an  offering  of  his  chain.     As  a  matter 
of  fact,  Sarmentus  had  been  regularly  manumitted. 

66.  ex  voto  :  in  accordance  with  his  vow.     Thank-offerings  were 
usually  symbolic,  consisting  of  the  implements  of  one's  trade  or  pro- 
fession, a  representation  of  a  part  of  the  body  which  had  been  cured 
of  disease,  or  something  equally  appropriate.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  5.  15 ;  iii. 
26.  4  ;  Epist.  i.  1.  5.      Ex  voto  has  become  in  English  the  technical 
term  for  such  offerings. 

68.  una  libra  :  slaves  received  four  or  five  pounds  of  meal  a  day 
as  rations.    A  little  fellow  like  Sarmentus  needed  but  one,  and  could 
have  sold  the  rest,  and  thus  soon  have  earned  money  enough  to  pur- 
chase his  freedom. 

69.  sic  tamque  :  the  terms  are  not  quite  synonymous  ;  slender  as 
he  was  and  so  puny. 

70.  prorsus  :  very,  exceedingly,  modifying  iucunde. 

71.  recta :  with  ellipsis  of  via.        Beneventum  :  about  twelve 
miles  from  Caudium.     It  was  originally  called  Maleventum,  from  the 
Greek  MaX6-/rejTa,  'apple  town,'  and  the  name  was  changed  for  the 
sake  of    the   omen,  since  people   associated    the   name   with   male, 
'  badly.'      See  Plin.  N.  H.  iii.  105,  cetera  intus  in  secunda  regione 
Hirpinorum   colonia   una  Beneventum  auspicatius  mutato  nomine, 
quae    quondam    appellata    Maleventum.         sedulus    hospes:    the 
attentive  host.     Since  the  travellers   stopped   at  an   inn,  apparently 
neither  Maecenas  nor  any  member  of  the  company  had  an  intimate 
friend  in  the  neighborhood.     See  note  on  line  2. 


PAGE  23.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  5.  201 

72.  arsit :  had  his  house  burned  up.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  ii.  311,  proxi- 
mus  ardet  Ucalegon;  Juv.  iii.  201,  Ultimus  ardebil,  quern  tegula  sola 
tuetur.    Kiessling  sees  in  the  involved  word  order  a  representation  of 
the  confusion  of  the  scene. 

73.  vaga  .  .  .  veterem  .  .  .  Volcano :   the  alliteration  and  the 
metonymy  (  Volcano  for  igni)  are  marks  of  the  mock-heroic  style ;  see 
note  on  line  3  above.        dilapso :  falling  out  of  the  stove  (see  note 
on  line  81).    The  wood,  which  the  sedulus  hospes  had  caused  to  be 
piled  on  too  lavishly,  fell  out,  and  the  fire  ran  up  the  side  of  the  room 
to  the  roof. 

75.  avidos :  hungry;  in  a  different  sense  in  i.  4.  126,  avidos  vici- 
num  funus  ut  aegros  exanimat.        timentis :  frightened,  either  for 
fear  of  punishment,  or  at  the  fire,  or  both. 

76.  velle :  trying.        videres  :  you  could  see  ;  an  example  of  the 
relatively  rare  'could '-potential.     Cf.  videas,  i.  4.  86  and  the  note. 
Here  the  action  of  the  verb  is  transferred  to  the  past. 

77.  ex  illo :  sc.  tempore,  after  that,  next.     Cf.  Prop.  ii.  29.  42,  Ex 
illo  felix  nox  mihi  nulla  fuit.        notos :  familiar,  because  they  were 
near  Horace's  birthplace. 

78.  mihi :  with  ostentare.        Atabuhis :    a  local  name  for  the 
sirocco,  a  hot  wind  from  the  south.      Cf.  Sen.  Nat.  Quaest.  v.  17.  5, 
Atabulus  Apuliam   infestat ;    Gell.  ii.  22.  25,  sunt  alii  plurifariam 
venti  commenticii  et  suae  quisque  regionis  indigenae,  ut  est  Horati- 
anus  quoque  ille  '  atabulus."1 

79.  erepsemus  —  erepsissemus,  perhaps  a  contracted  form.     See 
Lindsay,    Lat.  Lang.  p.  464.     The  word  is  used  of  slow  travelling, 
like  repimus  in  line  25  above.         Trivici  :   an   obscure  village  not 
mentioned  elsewhere.     Villa  seems  to  be  used  here  in  the  sense  of  a 
little  village,  as  in  Apul.  Met.  viii.  17,  villae  vero,  quam  tune  forte 
praeteribamus,  coloni.    The  word  may,  however,  have  its  usual  mean- 
ing, in  which  case  Trivici  would  be  governed  by  vicina  as  in  Lucan, 
ix.  432,  ora  Sub  nimio  proiecta  die,  vicina  perusti  Aetheris. 

80.  lacrimoso  fumo :  tearful  smoke,  i.e.  smoke  that  brought  tears 
to  the  eyes. 

81.  cum  foliis :    leaves  and  all.        camino :   stove.     The  word 
usually  means  forge,  but  is  also  applied  to  an  open  stove  ;  cf.  Epist. 
i.  11.  19;  by  metonymy  =fire;  Serm.  ii.  3.  321. 

86.  quattuor  .  .  .  viginti  et  milia :  twenty-four  miles.  Note 
the  position  of  et,  a  bold  hyperbaton.  rapimur :  used  of  rapid 
travel ;  the  opposite  of  repere,  lines  25  and  79.  raedis :  carriages, 


202  BOOK   I.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  24. 

large  and  heavy,  with  four  wheels.  Cf.  Juv.  iii.  10,  Dum  tola  domus 
raeda  componitur  una.  The  word,  like  some  others  connected  with 
horses  and  carriages  (e.g.  petorritum,  esseda,  mannus),  is  not  a  native 
Latin  one.  The  Romans  themselves  believed  it  to  be  Gallic ;  cf.  Quint. 
i.  5.  &7,plurima  Gallica  evaluerunt  ut  '•raeda'1  ac  '•petorritum^  quo- 
rum altero  tamen  Cicero,  altero  Horatius  utitur.  That  we  have  here 
the  first  mention  of  carriages,  does  not  of  necessity  imply  that  any 
part  of  the  journey  was  made  on  foot,  which  would  be  very  unusual 
for  men  of  the  station  of  Maecenas  and  his  party. 

87.  mansuri :  intending  to  put  up.     Horace  uses  the  future  par- 
ticiple very  freely,  to  denote  intention,  destiny,  purpose,  and  similar 
ideas.     See  Introd.  §  47.        oppidulo  :  what  the  name  of  this  village 
was  is  uncertain.     Some  believe  it  to  have  been  Eqitus  Tuticus,  as 
Porph.  suggests  ;  others  Asculum,  either  of  which  would  be  impossible 
in  hexameter  verse  in  the  locative.     Porph.  suggests  that  Horace  is 
here  imitating  Lucil.  254  L.,  servorum  est  festus  dies  hie,  Quern  plane 
hexametro  versu    non  dicere  possis.      Lucilius  may  have  followed 
Archestratus,  48.  3,  Ribb. ,  t'xMos  av£r)6tvTos  Sv  tv  n^rpy  ov  6t(jus  elirelv. 
Cf.  line    37  ;    Ovid,   ex  Pont.  iv.   12.   1-17.        non  est :   it  is  not 
possible,  a  colloquial  usage  ;  cf.  ii.  5.  103  ;  Epist.  i.  1.  32. 

88.  perfacile  est :    sc.  dicere,  from   the  preceding  clause.     By 
zeugma  the  word  here  has  the  meaning  describe.        venit :  is  actually 
sold  j  note  the  emphatic  position.    Observe  the  e.        vilissima  rerum : 
the  least  valuable  of  all  things. 

89.  ultra :  farther  on,  i.e.  to  Canusium. 

90.  callidus :  experienced,  knowing.        soleat :  the  original  long 
quantity  of  the  final  syllable  is  preserved.     See  Introd.  §  57.  (?. 

91.  lapidosus :  gritty,  from  the  friable  nature  of  the  mill-stones, 
a  characteristic  which  the  bread  of  Canusium  is  said  to  retain  to-day. 
aquae  non  ditior  urna  :  not  a  pitcherful  richer  in  water.     Aquae  is 
genitive  with  ditior  after  the  analogy  of  adjectives  of  plenty,  and  urna 
is  ablative  of  degree  of  difference. 

92.  Diomede  :  he  is  said  to  have  founded  Beneventum  and  Equus 
Tuticus  as  well.     Virgil  also  connects  Diomedes  with  Apulia.     See 
Aen.  viii.  9,  Mittitur  et  magni  Venulus  Diomedis  ad  urbem  (refer- 
ring to  Argyripa). 

93.  flentibus  .  .  .  amicis :   dative  of  separation.      See  B.   188, 
2,  d.        hie :  at  this  point,  here.     He  probably  returned  to  Rome. 

94.  Rubos :    twenty-four  miles  from  Canusium.         utpote  .  .  . 
carpentes :   since  we  were  making,  explanatory  of  fessi.     Utpote  is 


PAGE  24.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  5.  203 

more  commonly  used  with  a  relative,  but  cf.  i.  4.  24,  and  ii.  4.  9. 
With  the  whole  passage,  cf.  Lucil.  87  L.,  Praeterea  omne  iter  est  hoc 
lab<isum  atque  lutosum. 

96.  postera  tempestas :  the  weather  next  day,  for  postridie  tem- 
pestas. 

97.  Bari :  Barium  was  twenty-three  miles  farther  on,  on  the  coast ; 
hence  the  epithet  piscosi.        Gnatia:  the  colloquial  form  of  Egn a tia, 
thirty-seven  miles  from  Barium.        lymphis  .  .  .  exstmcta  :  built 
under  the  anger  of  the  icater-nymphs,  a  facetious  way  of  saying  that 
the  water  was  bad,  a  kind  of  parody  of  the  familiar  dis  iratis  •  cf.  ii. 
3.  8,  iratis  natus  paries  dis  atque  poetis. 

98.  risusque  iocosque  :  food  for  laughter  and  jests. 

99.  flamma  sine:  note  the  anastrophe  ;  see  note  on  inter,  i.  1. 
47.        tura  liquescere  :  that  the  incense  melts. 

100.  cupit :  sc.  ea  =  Gnatia.    This  miracle,  which  was  probably 
due  to  some  volcanic  phenomenon,  was  a  feature  of  the  town ;  cf. 
Plin.  X.H.  ii.  240,  reperitur  inter  auctores  .  .  .  in  Sallentino  oppido 
Egnatia*   impost  to  ligno   in   saxum  quoddam   ibi    sacrum,  protinus 
flammam   exsistere.        ludaeus  Apella :   the  Jews   were  regarded 
by  the   Romans  as  especially   superstitious.     Apella   is  a  common 
name   for   slaves   and    freedmen,    occurring    frequently    in    inscrip- 
tions. 

101.  didici:    from    Epicurus    and    his    disciple    Lucretius.     Cf. 
Lucr.    v.  82,   yam   bene  qui  didicere  deos  securum  agere   aevom; 
ii.  646  :  — 


Omnis  eniin  per  se  divom  natura  necessest 
Immortali  aevo  summa  cum  pace  fruatur, 
Seniota  ab  nostris  rebus  seiuuctaque  longe.' 


And  Tennyson,  Lotus  Eaters,  110,  "On  the  hills  like  gods  together, 
careless  of  mankind." 

102.  natura  :  i.e.  the  creative  power  of  the  universe.     Cf.  Lucr.  i. 
630,  rerurn  natura  creatrix. 

103.  tristis :    in  their  anger.      Such  portents  were  commonly 
regarded  as  manifestations  of  the  wrath  of  the  gods. 

104.  Brundisium  :  the  modern  Brindisi,  thirty-nine  miles  from 
Gnatia,  or,  according  to  others,  forty-four.     Brindisi  has  in  modern 
times  become  an  important  town  for  the  same  reason  which  led  to  its 
prominence  in  antiquity,  i.e.  because  it  is  the  most  convenient  point 
of  departure  from  Italy  to  the  Orient  and  to  Egypt. 


204  BOOK  I.     SEHMO  6.  [PAGE  25. 


SERMO  VI. 

1.  non  :  modifies  suspendis,  in  line  5  ;  note  the  emphatic  position. 
quia:   belongs  more   to   the  colloquial   language  than  quod.     Quia 
is  much  more  frequent  than  quod  in  early  Latin,  and  from  Tacitus 
on  ;  Horace  uses  the  former  only  twice  in  the  Odes,  but  frequently  in 
the  Sermones  and  Epistles.        Lydorum  :  the  Lydians  are  said  by. 
Herod,  i.  94,  to  have  settled  in  Etruria.     See  also  Tac.  Ann.  iv.  55  : 
Sardiani  decretum  Etruriae  recitavere  ut  consanguinei :  nain  Tyrrhe- 
num  Lydumque  Atye  rege  genitos  ob  multitudinem  divisisse  gentem ; 
Lydum  patriis  in  terris  resedisse,  Tyrrheno  datum  novas  ut  conderet 
sedes ;  et  ducum  e  nominibus  indita  vocabula  illis  per  Asiam,  his  in 
Italia.     The  real  origin  of  the  Etruscans  is  one  of  the  unsolved  prob- 
lems of  ethnology.    Lydorum  depends  on  both  quidquid  and  nemo, 
&ir6  KOIVOV  ;   cf.  illis,  i.  1.  20. 

2.  generosior  :  of  nobler  birth.     Note  the  derivation  of  the  word. 
For  its  application  to  Maecenas,  cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  1. 

3.  maternus  :  among  the  Etruscans,  pedigrees  were  traced  on  the 
mother's  side.     Horace  may  or  may  not  have  had  this  in  mind.    Prob- 
ably he  merely  means  to  say  that  both  branches  of  Maecenas's  family 
were  distinguished. 

4.  olim :  referring  to  the  time  of  fuit.      See  note  on  i.    1.   25. 
legionibus :  this  word,  strictly  used  of  Roman  troops  alone,  is  here 
used  in  the  general  sense  of  forces,  as  in  Plaut.  Amph.  217,  contra 
Teloboae  legiones  educunt  suas;  Sail.  Cat.  53,  sciebam  saepe  numero 
parva  manu  cum  magnis  legionibus  hostium  contendisse;  and  else- 
where,       imperitarent :    this  frequentative  or  intensive  of  impero 
is  not  found  in  Caesar  or  Cicero  and  is  rare  in  pre-Augustan  Latin. 
Horace  has  it  four  times  (cf.  Odes,  i.  15.  25  ;  Serm.  ii.  3.  189  ;  ii.  7. 
81),    apparently  with  the  same   meaning  as  impero.    The   frequent 
use  of  such  forms  is  characteristic  of  colloquial  Latin.       Cf.  also  Lucr. 
iii.  1027,  Inde  alii  multi  reges  rerumque  potentes  Occiderunt,  magnis 
qui  gentibus  imperitarunt. 

5.  naso  suspendis  adunco :  turn  up  your  nose  at;  cf.  ii.  8.  64, 
suspendens  omnia  naso.    Pers.  i.  40,  rides,  ait,  et  nimis  uncis  naribus 
indulges. 

6.  ignotos  =  ignobiles.        libertino :    see  note  on  liberta,  i.  1. 
99.      That  Horace  was  not  ashamed  of  his  parentage 'is  shown  by 
the  repetition  of  the  phrase  libertino  patre  natum  in  lines  45  and  46. 
Cf.  Epist.  i.  20.  20. 


PAGE  26.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  205 

7.  cum  .  .  .  negas :  the  explicative  use  of  cum,  in  saying  that  it 
makes  no  difference. 

8.  ingenuus  :  free-born.    Maecenas  apparently  would  not  associate 
with  slaves  and  freedmen.     The  same  thing  was  true  of  Augustus  ; 
see  Suet.  Aug.  74,  Valerius  Messalla  tradit  neminem  umquam  libertino- 
rum  adhibitum  ab  eo  (i.e.  Augustus)  cenae,  excepto  Mena,  sed  asserto 
in  ingenuitatem.        persuades  hoc  tibi  vere:  you  are  convinced, 
and  rightly. 

9.  Tulli :  referring  to  Servius  Tullius,  who,  according  to  the  tradi- 
tion, was  the  son  of  an  unknown  father  and  a  slave.     Cf.  Liv.  iv.  3. 
12,  Servium  Tullium  .  .  .  captiva  Corniculana  natum,  patre  nullo 
matre  serca,  ingenio  virtute  regnum  tenuisse ;  Juv.  viii.  259,  Ancilla 
natus  tf abeam  et  diadema  Quirini  Et  fasces  meruit,  regum  ultimus  ille 
bonorum.     With  ante  potestatem  Tulli,  cf.  vixere  fortes  ante  Agamem- 
nona,  Odes,  iv.  9.  25.        ignobile  regnum  :  the  adjective  is  used  only 
with  reference  to  the  parentage  of  Tullius  ;  cf.  the  passage  from  Juv. 
cited  in  the  last  note.     Translate  accordingly. 

10.  nullis  maioribus :  cf.  the  passage  from  Livy,  cited  in  the  note 
on  Tulli,  line  9.    A  slave  was  legally  filius  nullius. 

11.  vixisse  :  instead  offuisse,  a  common  use  in  Horace  ;  cf.  line  70 
below  ;  i.  4.  98.        honoribus  :  in  its  technical  sense  of  public  offices. 

12.  contra,  adverb,  on  the  other  hand.        Laevinum  :  this  par- 
ticular member  of  the  family  is  otherwise  unknown.     Porph.  says :  hie 
P.  Valerius  adeo  foedis  et  proiectis  in  omnem  turpitudinem  moribus 
vixit,  utprovehi  non  potuerit  ultra  quaestoriam  dignitatem.        Valeri 
genus  =  Valeri  progenies,  a  descendant  of  the   Valerii.      Cf.   Odes, 
i.  3.  27,  audax  lapeti  genus.        unde  =  <?  quo  ;  cf.  unde  generatur, 
Odes,  i.  12.  17.     Horace  uses  ab  and  the  ablative  with  fugio  only  in 
Serm.  i.  1.  68.     See  note  on  ii.  3.  4.         Superbus  Tarquim'us  :   on 
the  transposition  of  the  nomen  and  cognomen,  see  the  note  on  Serm. 
i.  4.  72.     Here  the  order  is  doubtless  influenced  by  the  meaning  of  the 
cognomen. 

14.  non  umquam  .  .  .  licuisse  :  was  never  valued  at  more  than 
a  single  penny.     Pluris,  genitive  of  value,  is  governed  by  licuisse,  and 
assis  by  pretio.        notante  :  ablative  absolute  with  populo.    Notante 
has  a  technical  force,  being  the  term  used  of  the  official  rebukes  of  the 
censors.     For  the  meaning  of  noto,  cf.  i.  3.  24  ;  i.  4.  5  ;  i.  4.  106;  etc. 

15.  quo :   in  sense,  object  of  nosti,  but  attracted  to  the  case  of 
populo.        stultus :    in  its  folly,   opposed   to  sanus.    The  idea  is 
emphasized  by  ineptus,  line  16. 


BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  26. 

16.  famae  servit :  is  a  slave  to  mere  renown,  i.e.  rates  highly  men 
of  noble  birth,  regardless  of  their  personal  character.        ineptus  : 
note  the  emphatic  position,  and  the  chiastic  arrangement  of  the  sen- 
tence qui  .  .  .  ineptus. 

17.  stupet  in  :  is  dazzled  by.     Stupet  is  constructed  with  in  and 
the   ablative,  cf.  also  Virg.  Aen.  x.  455,  stupet  in  Turno ;  with  the 
ablative  -alone,   cf.  i.  4.    24  ;    with  the  accusative,   cf.  Juv.  iv.   119, 
nemo  magis  rhombum  stupuit.        titulis  et  imaginibus  :  i.e.  the  wax 
masks  of  a  long  line  of  ancestors,  hung  in  the  hall  of  the  man  of  high 
birth,  with  the  inscriptions  recounting  their  offices  and  exploits. 

18.  nos  :  people  like  us,  i.e.  men  of  education  and  discretion.    The 
reference  is  to  both  Horace  and  Maecenas,  since  a  volgo  longe  lon- 
geque  remotos  would  seem  arrogant  and  out  of  place,  if  applied  to 
Horace  alone.        longe  longeque :  note  the  emphasis  given  by  the 
repetition  of  the  word,  which  is  more  effective  than  longissime  would 
have  been. 

19.  esto  :   let  us  suppose  a  case.        Laevino  :    a  Laevinus,  i.e. 
a  man  like  Laevinus.         mallet :   a  paratactic  condition  contrary  to 
fact ;  if  the  people  preferred,  as  in  fact  they  did  not. 

'  20.  Decio  .  .  .  novo  :  a  Decius  of  obscure  birth,  another  type ; 
cf.  Laevino  in  line  19.  P.  Decius  Mus,  who  devoted  himself  to  death 
in  the  battle  of  Mt.  Vesuvius  (340  B.C.),  to  save  his  country,  was  the 
first  curule  magistrate  in  his  family  and  hence  a  novus  homo. 

21.  Appius :  since  the  personages  named  in  the  passage  are  types, 
it  seems  most  natural  to  think  of  the  famous  Appius  Claudius  Caecus. 
si:  since,  i.e.  if  I  were  not,  as  in  fact  I  am  not.     The  mood  of  essem 
is  assimilated  to  that  of  mallet  and  moveret. 

22.  vel  merito  :  sc.  facerent,  they  would  be  quite  right ;  the  apod- 
osis  to  mallet  and  moveret  is  implied  in  vel  merito.     The  thought  is 
that  men  like  Horace  ought  to  be  content  with  their  proper  sphere  in 
life,  and  not  aspire  to  positions  to  which  they  are  not  eligible.        quo- 
niam  .  .  .  quiessem :    alluding   to    the   fable  of   .the    Ass   in   the 
Lion's  Skin  ;  cf.  ii.  1.  64.     Allusions  to  the  fables  of  Aesop  are  fre- 
quent in  Horace.     The  mood  of  quiessem  is  assimilated  to  that  of 
facerent. 

23.  sed :  i.e.  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  majority  of  people  cannot 
open  their  eyes  to  the  truth,  but  struggle  to  acquire  office.         Gloria  : 
Ambition,  personified.     Cf.  Epist.  ii.  1.  177,   Quern  tulit  ad  scaenam 
ventoso  Gloria  curru.        curru  :  ablative  of  association  ;  cf.  chordis, 
Odes,  iv.  9.  4 ;  litore,  ii.  3.  205 ;  and  see  Introd.  §  41.  b. 


PAGE  26.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  207 

24.  ignotos :  cf.  line  6  above.        generosis :  cf.  note  on  line  1 
above.         quo  tibi  .  .  .  sumere:  what  does  it  profit  you  to  take  up? 
The  infinitive  takes  the  place  of  a  noun  in  the  exclamatory  accusative  ; 
cf.  quo  mihi  fortunam,  Epist.  i.  5.  12.     See  Lane,  Lat.  Gr.  1150;  G. 
343.    1.        Tilli :  the  Comm.  Cruq.  says  :    Tillius  hie  senatu  motus 
est  a  Caesare  quasi  Pompeianus ;  occiso  vero  Caesare  recepit  latum 
iterum  clavum,  id  est  senatoriam  dignitatem,  et   tribunus  militum 
factus  est.     In  the  same  way  Sallust  was  removed  from  the  senate 
and  afterwards  recovered  his  seat. 

25.  tribuno :  dative,  assimilated  to  the  case  of  tibi. 

26.  private  :  serves  as  the  protasis  to  esset,  in  a  condition  contrary 
to  fact. 

27.  ut :  as  soon  as.        insanus :  because  to  Horace  it  seems  mad- 
ness to  desire  such  things.         nigris  .  .  .  pellibus :  senators  wore  a 
black  or  purple  shoe,  fastened  by  four  black  thongs  passed  about  the 
calf  of  the  leg.    These  thongs  (corriyiae}  are  here  called  pelles,  per- 
haps slightingly.        medium  :  up  to  the  middle. 

28.  latum  .  .  .  clavum :  see  note  on  i.  5.  36. 

29.  continue:    immediately.         quis  homo  hie:    who   is  this 
fellow  ? 

30.  aegrotet :  used   figuratively,  as   in   ii.  3.  307.        Barrus :  a 
fop  of  the  day  ;  according  to  Porph.,  a  man  of  abandoned  character  as 
well.     Subject  of  aegrotet,  implied  in  aegrotat.        baberi:  depends 
on  cupiat. 

31.  eat .  .  .  iniciat :  part  of  the  apodosis  of  the  conditional  sen- 
tence introduced  by  si  qui. 

32.  singula  :  his  various  marks  of  beauty.     An  adjective  used  as 
a  substantive. 

34.    promittit,  etc.  :  apparently  referring  in  a  general  way  to  the 
oath  taken  by  magistrates  on  assuming  their  office. 

36.  ignota  matre  :  a  low-born  mother.     Cf.  lines  6,  24,  96. 

37.  curare  et  quaerere:  cf.  cura  quaerendi,  line  32, 

38.  Syri,  Damae  .  .  .  Dionysi :  typical  names  of  slaves.     Syrus, 
originally  ethnic,  'the  Syrian,'  is  found  as  the  name  of  one  of  the 
dramatis  personae  in  Terence's  Heauton  and  Adelphoe  ;   again  in 
Horace  in   Serm.  ii.  6.  44.    Dama  is  a  favorite  name  with  Horace, 
occurring  also  Serm.  ii.  5.  18  and  101 ;   ii.  7.  54.    Dionysius  occurs 
only  here. 

39.  deicere  :  scanned  _  w  w,  as  in  Lucr.  iii.  877;  Virg.  Eel.  3. 96. 
saxo  :  sc.  Tarpeio.    To  condemn  a  criminal  to  be  hurled   from  the 


208  .    BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  27. 

Tarpeian  rock  was  one  of  the  extraordinary  powers  of  a  tribune.  Cf. 
Veil.  Pater,  ii.  24,  Publius  Laenas  tribunus  plebei  Sextum  Lucilium, 
qui  priore  anno  tribunus  plebei  fuerat,  saxo  Tarpeio  deiecit. 
Cadmo  :  an  executioner  or  jailer  of  the  period. 

40.  Novius :  Newman  (cf.  novus)  one  of  the  numerous  names  in 
Horace  which  are  selected  on  account  of  their  appropriateness  to  the 
situation.     The  fact  that  it  is  a  common  Roman  nomen  does  not  in 
any  way  militate  against  this  view.        gradu  post  me  uno :    used 
metaphorically,  but  with  an  allusion  to  the  assignments  of  the  seats  in 
the  theatre  according  to  rank. 

41.  Paulus  et  Messalla :  cognomina  of  the  old  and  aristocratic 
Aemilian  and  Valerian  families.;  hence  selected  as  types  of  men  of 
family,  by  way  of  contrast  with  Novius. 

42.  plostra  :  the  colloquial  form  for  plaustra.        ducenta :  used 
indefinitely  of  a  large  number.      See  Introd.  §  50. 

43.  concurrant  .  .  .  sonabit :  with  this  mixed  form  of  the  con- 
ditional sentence,  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  7-8.        magna :  to  be  taken  with 
funera.        sonabit   quod  :    i.e.  will   shout   loudly  enough   to  ;   the 
relative  clause  stands  to  sonabit  in  the  relation  of  an  accusative  of  the 
inner  object. 

45.  ad  me  redeo :  with  reference  to  line  6.     Cf.  Lucil.  1092  L., 
nunc  ad  te  redeo,  Ut  quae  res  me  impendet  rogetur. 

46.  rodunt :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  3.  16  ;  Serm.  i.  4.  81.        libertino  patre 
natum  :  the  repetition  of  the  phrase  mimics  his  detractors.    Cf.  Odes, 
i.  13.  1  and  2  ;  i.  35.  15  ;  iv.  2.  49  and  50. 

47.  sim  :  like  pareret  in  line  48,  gives  the  reason  of  his  critics. 
convictor:  intimate  friend ;  cf.  i.  4.  96. 

48.  tribuno  :  in  the  army  of  Brutus.     See  Introd.  §  3. 

49.  hoc  :  referring  to  the  friendship  of  Maecenas.    To  this  Horace 
had  a  right,  whereas  in  the  office  of  military  tribune  he  was  out  of 
his  proper  sphere.          forsit :   this  form,    for  fors  sit,  occurs   only 
here.     It  is  doubtless  colloquial.        honorem  :  i.e.  the  office  of  tribu- 
nus militum.    Honorem  is  the  direct  object  of  invideat,  while  mihi 
is  the  indirect  object ;  so  te  in  line  50,  with  amicum  in  apposition. 

51.  cautum  :  agrees  with  te ;  =  cum  cautus  sis.        prava  ambi- 
tione  procul :    equivalent  to  an  adjective  in  appositive  relation  to 
dignos.     Cf.  Ovid,  Metam.  i.  20,  frigida  pugnabant  calidis  .  .  .  sine 
pondere  habentia  pondus. 

52.  felicem  :  in  the  emphatic  position  ;  it  implies  chance  or  good 
luck. 


PAGE  27.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  209 

53.  possim  :  potential  subjunctive.        hoc:  on  this  account ;  cf. 
i.  1.40.        casu  .  .  .  sortitus  :  these  words,  like  felicem,  imply  mere 
chance.     With  sortitus  supply  sum. 

54.  nulla  .  .  .  fors:    for  it  was  no  chance.     Note  the  emphasis 
given   by   the   word  order.        olim :  some  time  ago.     See  note  on  i. 
1.  25. 

55.  Varius  :   see  note  on  i.  5.  40.        quid  essem :  what  sort  of  a 
man  I  was.     Cf.  Ovid,  Heroid,  12.  31,  tune  coepi  scire  quid  esses; 
and  for  the  use  of  the  neuter  referring  to  a  person,  cf.  nil,  i.  3.  18. 

56.  singultim :  brokenly,  the  result  of  infans  pudor. 

57.  infans :  here  has.  its  literal  meaning  of  speechless,  tongue-tied, 
caused  by  pudor.      Cf.   Odes,  i.  4.  3,  pallida  mors.        pudor  .  .  . 
profari :  note  the  alliteration,  and  the  singultim  effect  produced  by 
the  repetition  of  the  p. 

58.  non  ego  :    i.e.  Horace  did  not  pretend   to  be  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  provincial.     Emphasis  is  given  by  the  anaphora  non  .  .  .  non. 

59.  Satureiano  =  Tarentino,  since  Satureia  was  an  ancient  name 
for  Tarentum.     The  adjective  belongs  in  sense  rather  with  rura  than 
with  caballo,  with  which  it  agrees  grammatically ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  6.  38, 
Sabellis  ligonibus.         caballo:    nag  ;   caballus  is  a  colloquial  word, 
which   became  French  cheval,  Italian   cavallo ;   cf.  English  chivalry. 
See  note  on  buccas,  i.  1.  21.     The  claim  that  he  rode  over  an  ancestral 
estate  (rura)  would  imply  that  Horace's  father  was  a  rich  landed 
proprietor.    The  adjective  Satureiano  is  used  on  the  same  principle 
which  actuated  the  use  of  Austris  for  ventis,  in  i.  1.  6  ;  see  note. 

60.  quod  erani :  a  relative  clause ;  cf.  quid  essem  (indirect  ques- 
tion) in  line  55,  and  the  note. 

63.  turpi  .  .  .  honestum:  these  adjectives,  which  are  used  as 
substantives,  may  be  either  masculine  or  neuter ;  they  are  probably 
the  latter. 

64.  patre  .  .  .  puro  :  note  the  alliteration.    The  ablatives  modify 
secernis. 

65.  atqui :  yet  after  all.   Though  Horace  does  not  owe  his  advance- 
ment directly  to  his  parentage,  he  does  so  indirectly,  because  of  his 
early  training.        vitiis :  for  the  derivation  and  meaning,  see  note  on 
i.  3.  1.   Note  the  contrast  with  recta.          mea  :  the  hyperbaton  serves 
to  emphasize  paucis. 

66.  meiidosa:  cf.  Ovid,  Amores,  ii.  4.  1,  non  ego  mendosos  ausim 
dcfcndcre  mores. 

68.    sorclis  :  niggardliness,  as  shown  by  a  neglect  of  the  elegancies 


210  BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  27. 

of  life.  mala  Itistra:  evil  communications.  Cf.  Paul.  p.  120, 
(Lustra)  significant  lacunas  lutosas  quae  sunt  in  silvis  aprorum 
cubilia;  a  qua  similitudine  hi  qui  in  locis  abditis  et  sordidis  ventri  et 
desidiae  operam  dant  dicuntur  in  lustris  vitam  agere.  Lustra  would 
have  a  different  meaning. 

71.  pauper:    with  concessive  force.          macro  .  .  .  agello:    a 
small  farm  near  Venusia ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  4.  9  ff.     It  was  confiscated 
after  the  battle  of  Philippi. 

72.  Flavi  ludum  :  a  school  at  Venusia.        magni  .  .  .  magiiis : 
note  the  ironical  repetition  of  the  adjective,  which  doubtless  contains 
the  double  idea  of  '  tall '  and  *  great.'     Big,  burly  men  were  selected 
as  centurions,  since  they  had  to  chastise  unruly  soldiers.     Hence  they 
are  referred  to  as  types  of  bodily  strength  by  Cic.  De  Sen.  10.  33. 
Venusia  was  the  seat  of  one  of  Sulla's  military  colonies,  in  which  the 
centurions  would  form  the  aristocracy  of  the  place.      They  and  their 
sons  looked  down  on  Horace,  the  freedman's  child. 

74.  loculos  tabulamque :  objects  of  suspensi,  which  is  used  in  a 
middle  sense.     Cf.  membra,  i.  1.  5.    Loculi,  which  in  this  sense  is 
always  plural,  means  a  satchel,  and  is  apparently  synonymous  with 
capsa;  cf.  Juv.  x.  116,   Quisquis  adhuc  uno  parcam  colit  asse  Miner- 
vam,  Quern  sequitur  custos  angustae  vernula  capsae.      The  tabula  was 
a  tablet,  for  writing  or  figuring  upon.     The  centurions'  sons  carried 
these  themselves,  instead  of  having  slaves  for  the  purpose,  as  Juvenal's 
schoolboy  had,  and  as  Horace  had  when  in  Rome. 

75.  octonos  .  .  .  aeris :  sc.  asses  or  nummos,  their  eight  asses  (a, 
month),  ten  or  twelve  cents.      The  pay  of  schoolmasters  in  ancient 
Rome  was  very  small,  and  their  lot  generally  an  unhappy  one ;  this 
must  have  been  still  more  so  in  the  small  provincial  towns.     Octonos 
is  doubtless  not  to  be  taken  literally,  but  as  a  general  term  for  a  small 
number.        Idibus :  interest  was  due  on  the  Kalends  or  Ides ;  see  i. 
3.  87  ;  Epod.  2.  69.      Teachers'  salaries  appear  to  have  been  paid  at 
the  same  dates. 

76.  puerum  :  when  I  was  still  a  boy.        ausus  :   sc.  est;  had  the 
assurance,  in  spite  of  his  humble  position  and  the  example  of  the 
'  great '  centurions. 

77.  artis  :   i.e.  artis  quibus  aetas  puerilis  ad  humanitatem  infor- 
mari  solet,  Cic.  Arch.  3.  4.     Horace's  father  wished  to  give  him  the 
education  of  a  gentleman.         doceat :   causative,  has  .  .  .  taught. 

78.  servos  :  i.e.  capsarii,  to  carry  his  books  and  tablets  ;  cf.  line 
74  and  the  note. 


PAGE  28.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  211 

79.  in  magno  ut  populo :  as  was  usual  in  a  large  city,  where  all 
schoolboys  had  such  attendants.        avita  ex  re  :  from  an  hereditary 
estate.     Horace,  as  the  son  of  a  freedman,  had  no  avus. 

80.  crederet :   subjunctive  in  an  apodosis  contrary  to  fact ;   the 
tense,  as  compared  with  vidisset,  is  due  to  the  meaning  of  the  word, 
since  the  action  of  crederet  might  continue  into  the  present. 

81.  custos :   i.e.  Horace's  father  acted  as  his  son's  paedagogus ; 
cf.  the  passage  from  Juv.  cited  in  the  note  on  line  74. 

82.  circum  .  .  .  aderat :   i.e.  he  went  around  to.          pudicum 
(sc.  me)  :  to  be  taken  with  servavit,  while  ab  omni  .  .  .  facto  is  gov- 
erned by  pudicum.        doctores  :  of  these  only  Orbilius  is  mentioned 
by  name  ;  see  Epist.  ii.  1.  71. 

85.  sibi  .  .  .  vitio  .  .  .  verteret :   criticise  him ;  vitio  is  dative 
of  purpose.    Note  the  alliteration.         olim  :  some  day. 

86.  praeco  :  auctioneer.  coactor :  collector,  of  taxes.      Cf. 
Suet.  Vit.  Hor. :  patre,  ut  ipse  tradit,   libertino   et  exactionum  co- 
actore  ;  ut  vero  creditum  est,  salsamentario.    There  seems  to  be  no 
reason  why  Horace  should  misrepresent  his  father's  calling  ;  hence  the 
idea  that  he  was  a  salsamentarius,  a  dealer  in  salt  fish,  was  undoubt- 
edly erroneous. 

87.  hoc  .  .  .  maior  :  the  greater.        mine  :  as  it  is,  i.e.  as  mat- 
ters have  turned  out. 

89.  paeniteat :     potential  subjunctive,    /    would    never    regret. 
sanum  :  i.e.  so  long  as  I  am  in  my  senses  ;  cf.  i.  5.  44. 

90.  dolo  .  .  .  suo  :  a  legal  expression,  equivalent  to  culpa  sua. 

92.  defendam  :   against  the  charge  of  having  a  freedman  for  a 
father  ;  cf.  line  46  above.        istis  :  such  people,  referring,  with  a  con- 
temptuous force,  to  the  individuals  implied  in  magnapars  ;  dative  with 
discrepat.    Brachylogy  for  voci  et  rationi  istorum. 

93.  et  vox  et  ratio  :   my  words  and  even  my  thoughts.          si 
natura  iuberet :  i.e.  if  it  were  a  law  of  nature,  as  it  is  not. 

94.  a  certis  annis :  after  a  given  age.         remeare  :  i.e.  iterum 
meare,  to  live  over  again,  governing  aevum. 

95.  ad  fastum  :   to  suit  his  pride.          quoscumque:    a  general 
relative,  any  parents  whatsoever. 

96.  hoiiestos  :  dignified  by,'  note  the  derivation  of  the  word. 

97.  fascibus  et  sellis  :  sc.  curulibus  with  sellis ;  the  insignia  of 
the  curule  magistrates,  the  former  of  the  consuls  and  praetors,  the 
latter  of  the  consuls,  praetors,  curule  aediles,  and  censors. 

98.  fortasse  tuo :  sc.  iudicio.     Porph.  says  :  hoc  ad  Maecena- 


212  BOOK   I.     SERMO  0.  [PAGE  28. 

tern  recte  dicitur,  qui  abhorrens  senatoriam  dignitatem,  in  equestris 
honoris  gradu  se  continuit.  Fortasse  is  purely  rhetorical,  since 
Horace  had  no  real  doubt  about  Maecenas's  opinion. 

99.  nollem  :  the  subjunctive  represents  the  reason  as  in  the  mind 
of  Maecenas.  onus  .  .  .  molestum :  because,  as  is  explained  in 
the  following  lines,  he  would  have  to  increase  his  property  to  the 
senatorial  rating,  and  to  assume  greater  state  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
baud  umquam  :  cf.  non  umquam,  line  14. 

101.  salutandi  :  referring  to  receiving  calls,  as  well  as  to  making 
them.     Cf.  Cic.  ad  Fam.  ix.  20.  3,    mane  salutamus  domi  ;  Hieron. 
Epist.  43,  pudet  dicere  frequentiam  salutandi,  qua  aut  ipsi  quotidie  ad 
alios  pergimus  aut  ad  nos  venientes  ceteros  expectamus.        ducendus 
et :    hyperbaton  for  et  ducendus.        unus  et  alter :   we  should  say 
one  or  two. 

102.  uti  ne :   a  fuller  form  of  expression  for  simple  ne,  a  regular 
classical  usage.        peregreve :  a  hypermetric  verse  ;  cf.  i.  4.  96,  and 
the  note. 

103.  calones  :  grooms.        caballi  :  see  note  on  line  59. 

104.  ducenda  :  must  be  taken  with  me,  when  making  a  journey. 
Cf.  ducendus,  line  101.       petorrita  :  see  note  on  redis,  i.  5. 96.    Fest. 
p.  206  says  :  petorritum  et  Gallicum  vehiculum  esse  et  nomen  eius  dictum 
esse  existimant  a  numero  IV  rotarum  ;  alii  Osce,  quod  hi  quoque 
petora  quattuor  vocant.    The  numeral  also  had  the  iormpetora  in 
Gallic,  while  the  last  part  of  the  word  is  cognate  with  German  JKaeZ, 
'wheel.'         curto:  humble. 

105.  mulo  :  ablative  of  means,  like  ire  pedibus.        vel  .  .  .  usque 
Tarentum :  all  the  way  to  Tarentum  ;  i.e.  to  the  end  of  the  peninsula. 

106.  mantica:  portmanteau,  a  hand-bag  (cf.  manus).     He  trav- 
elled without  a  baggage  train,  carrying  his  scanty  luggage  on  his  own 
mule.         ulceret :  galls.        arnios  :  nearly  always  in  classical  Latin 
used  of  the  shoulders  of  an  animal,  as  dorsum  is  of  the  back  (cf.  ume- 
ros  and  tergum).    Horace  evidently  rode  well  forward,  to  make  room 
for  his  baggage.        eques :  rider,  used  in  a  general  sense,  doubtless 
humorously. 

107.  sordis  :  cf.  line  78.        Tilli  :  cf.  line  24. 

108.  Tiburte  via :  the  road  to  Tibur,  twenty  miles  northeast  of 
Rome.     A  praetor  would  be  expected  to  travel  in  state,  with  a  large 
retinue  of  slaves.     On  the  number  of  slaves,  see  notes  on  i.  3.  11,  and 
on  line  116  below.    Note  also  praetor  used  typically  of  a  high  magis- 
trate ;  see  note  on  i.  5.  34. 


PAGE  29.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  G.  213 

109.    lasanum   portantes,  etc. :  i.e.  carrying  their  own  supplies, 
4  boarding  themselves,'  instead  of  putting  up  at  inns. 
HO.   hoc :  in  this  respect. 

111.  milibus  atque  aliis  :  parallel  with  hoc,  and  in  thousands  of 
others.     Mille  is  used  indefinitely  of  a  large  number.     See  Introd. 
§  50  ;  and  for  aliis,  an  adjective  used  as  a  substantive  in  an  oblique 
case  with  ambiguous  gender,  see  note  on  his,  i.  4.  56. 

112.  solus :  cf.  i.  9.  10,  where  Horace  is  represented  as  attended 
by  a  single  slave.        quanti  bolus  ac  far  :  sc.  stet,  although  no  ellipsis 
is  consciously  present  to  the  writer's  mind ;    cf.  our  English  expres- 
sion,   '  How  much  ?  '     Quanti  is  genitive  of  value.     Horace,  as  an 
observer  of  the  various  phases  of  human  life,  strolls  about  the  forum 
holitorium  and  other  public  places.     See  Introd.  §  31. 

113.  fallacem  circum  :  the  Circus  Maximus,  with  its  porticoes 
and  the  arches  under  the  rows  of  seats,  was  a  resort  for  hucksters, 
astrologers,  and  similar  characters.     Cf.  Cic.  deDiv.  i.  58.  132,  de  circo 
astrologos  ;  Juv.  vi.  582,  Si  mediocris  erit,  spatium  lustrabit  utrimque 
Metarum  etsortes  ducet  frontemque  manumque  Praebebit  vati  crebrum 
poppysma  royanti.        vespertinum :  in  the  evening,  when  the  day's 
business  was  done,  and  the  forum  was  filled  with  idlers  and  loungers. 

114.  adsisto  divinis  :    i.e.  he  stands  beside  the  fortune-tellers, 
and  listens  to  their  predictions  to  the  common  people.     Horace's  own 
opinion  of  such  matters  is  shown  by  Odes,  i.  11.        hide  :  from  there. 

115.  lagani  :  a  kind  of  pancake. 

116.  pueris  :  probably  instrumental  ablative,  since  the  slaves  were 
regarded  merely  as  part  of  the  instrumenta  cenae.    Cf.  tonsore,  Epist. 
i.  1.  94.        lapis  albus  :  Porph.  says  :  marmoream  Delphicam  sig- 
niftcat,  quae  scilicet  pretii  mayni  non  est.     The  Delphica  (sc.  mensa) 
was  a  small  three-legged  table,  so-called  from  its  resemblance  to  the 
Delphic  tripod,  for  holding  the  mixing-bowl  and  wine-cups.     The  rich 
man  would  have  a  table  of  costly  wood  or  of  some  variegated  marble. 

117.  pocula  duo  :  drinking-cups  were  usually  made  in  pairs.    Cf. 
Cic.  Verr.  ii.  2.  19.  47,  scyphorum  paria  complura;  Virg.  Eel.  iii.  36  ff. 
and  44  ff.         echinus :   an  unknown  utensil  in  the  shape  of  a  sea- 
urchin,  possibly  a  salt-cellar.    Porph.  says,  vitream  ampullam  intel- 
legere  debemus ;  the   Comm.  Cruq.,  vas  salis ;  the  pseudo-Acron,  vas 
aeneum  in  quo  calices  lavantur. 

118.  cum  patera  guttus  :  an  oil-flask  and  saucer.    Or  perhaps 
the  fjuttus  was  a  wine-flask,  for  pouring  libations  into  the  patera. 
Campana  supellex  :  of  cheap  Campanian  bronze,  instead  of  silver. 


214  BOOK   I.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  29. 

Cf.  ii.  3.  144.     Porph.  says:   Campanam  supellectilem  vilem  intellegi 
vult,  quia  Capuae  hodie  aenea  vasa  studiosius  fabricari  dicuntur. 

120.  Marsya  :  statues  of  Silenus  or  of  Marsyas  were  erected  in 
the  market-places  of  many  free  towns  of  Italy,  as  a  symbol  of  liberty. 
One  stood  in  the  Roman  Forum,  near  the  praetor's  tribunal.  Horace 
implies  that  the  uplifted  hand  of  the  figure  or  the  expression  of  its  face 
indicated  its  disgust  at  the  appearance  of  the  younger  Novius,  prob- 
ably a  usurer  who  had  his  stand  among  the  neighboring  tabernae  argen- 
tariae.  The  story  of  Marsyas  was  a  favorite  subject  in  plastic  art  and 
in  painting. 

122.  quartam :  sc.  horam,  i.e.  three  hours  after  sunrise.     See  note 
on  i.  5.  23.         iaceo :  not  necessarily  sleeping  (c/.  Epist.  ii.  1.  112), 
but  reading  or  meditating.     Cf.  Pliny's  account  of  his  early  morning 
work,  in  Epist.  ix.  36.        vagor :   stroll  about,  cf.  line  113  above ; 
i.  9.  17.        ego  :    emphatic,  contrasting  his  habits  with  the  life  of 
the  rich  senator.          lecto  :  ablative  absolute  with  the  implied  ante- 
cedent of  quod.     Cf.  i.  1.  94. 

123.  unguor  olivo  :   preparatory  to  exercise.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  8.  8. 
Unguor  is  perhaps  used  in  a  middle  sense. 

124.  Natta  :  a  miserly  fellow,  otherwise  unknown,  who  anointed 
his  body  with  oil  fit  only  for  burning  in  lamps. 

125.  ast :  archaic  form  of  at,  used  also  in  Epod.  15.  24,  and  fre- 
quently by  Virgil.        fessum  :  by  ball  playing. 

126.  fugio  :   /  leave.         lusum  trigonem  :    the  game  of  ball 
which  I  have  finished  playing  ;  note  the  perfect  participle.     The  trigo 
was  a  game  in  which  the  players  stood  at  the  apices  of  a  triangle  and 
passed  the  ball  from  one  to  the  other.     The  skill  consisted  in  catching 
and  throwing  the  ball  with  either  hand. 

127.  pransus :  the  prandium,  the  first  substantial  meal  of  the 
day,  the  modern  European  dejeuner  a  la  fourchette,  was  taken  at 
about  noon.        quantum  :  has  for  its  antecedent  the  object  (under- 
stood) of  pransus. 

128.  domesticus  otior  :  idle  about  at  home.     Otior  is  a  word 
formed  humorously  after  the  analogy  of  negotior.     Except  here,  it 
occurs  only  in  Cic.  Off.  iii.  14.  58,  (Caninius)  cum  se  Syracusas  otiandi, 
ut  ipse  dicere  solebat,  non  negotiandi  causa  contulisset.    Porph.  says : 
verbumfinxit  (Horatius~). 

130.  victurum  :  destined  to  live.     See  note  on  mansuri,  i.  5.  87. 

131.  quaestor :  the  lowest  of  the  offices  which  gave  admission  to 
the  senate.      The  person  whose  grandfather  and  father  had  been 


PAGE  30.J  BOOK  I.     SERMO  7.  215 

quaestor  would  thus  be  in  the  lowest  class  of  the  nobiles,  but  would 
have  all  the  annoyances  and  burdens  accompanying  the  rank.  at- 
que  :  connects  avus  and  pater.  fuisset :  ac  si  is  followed  by  the 
pluperfect  subjunctive,  instead  of  the  usual  perfect  after  a  primary 
tense,  to  emphasize  the  idea  of  non-reality. 

SERMO   VII. 

1.  Prescript!  Regis  Rupili :  Porph.  says  :  P.  Rupilius  cognomine 
Rex,  Praenestinus,  post  exilium,  in  quod  damnatus  profugerat,  mili- 
tarit  in  Africa  sub  Attio  Varo.     Deinde  cum  praeturam  gereret,  pro- 
scriptus  a  triumviris  confugit  ad  Brutum  et  inter  comites  habitus  est. 

2.  hybrida  :  half-breed,  i.e.  half  Italian  and  half  Greek.        Per- 
sius :  obviously  a  banker  of  Clazomenae. 

3.  lippis  et  tonsoribus  :  the  physicians'  booths  and  the  barber- 
shops were  favorite  lounging  places  where  gossip  was  retailed.     Cf. 
Plaut.  Amph.   1013,    In  medicinis,  in  tonstrinis,  apud  omnes  aedis 
sacras  Sum  defessus  quaeritando.    The  disease  of  sore  eyes  was  so 
common  at  Rome  that  the  physicians'  booths  would  always  contain  a 
crowd  of  such  sufferers.     See  note  on  i.  5.  30. 

4.  dives :  since  he  was  a  rich  man  ;  note  the  emphatic  position  of 
the  adjective. 

5.  etiam  :  sc.  habebat,  was  involved  in. 

6.  durus    homo :    an  ugly  customer,   a  hard  man  to    manage. 
odio :  hatefulness.        qui  posset :  a  clause  of  characteristic,  parallel 
with  the  adjective  durus. 

7.  confidens:  in  a  bad  sense,  *  cheeky.''     Cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  iii. 
7.  14,  qui  fortis  est,  idem  est  fidens,  quoniam  confidens  mala  consue- 
tudine  loquendi  in  vitio  ponitur.        tumidus:   boastful;  cf.  Odes,  iv. 
3.  8,  regum  tumidas  minas. 

8.  Sisennas,  Barros :  i.e.  men  like  Sisenna  and  Barrus,  who  are 
otherwise  unknown,  but  were  evidently  celebrated  for  their  vitupera- 
tive powers.         equis   praecurreret  albis  :   i.  e.  far  outstripped,  a 
proverbial  expression.     White  horses  were  regarded  as  the  swiftest. 
Thus  the  horses  of  Rhesus  were  white   (Virg.  Aen.  i.  472  ;   cf.  xii. 
83  ff.).     A  similar  proverbial  use  is  found  in  Plaut.  Asin.  278,  Nam  si 
huic  occasioni  tempus  sese  supterduxerit,  Numquam  edepol  quadrigis 
albis  indipiscet  postea. 

9.  ad  Regem  redeo  :  /  return  to  Hex,  the  subject  of  the  story. 
The  usual  expression  after  a  digression  ;  cf.  i.  1.  108  ;  i.  6. 45.         post- 


216  BOOK   I.     SERMO  7.  [PAGE  30. 

quam  .  .  .  convenit :  when  no  agreement  was  reached.     The  main 
verb  is  pugnat,  in  line  19 ;  convenit  is  impersonal. 

10.  hoc  .  .  .  molesti  .  .  .  quo  fortes  .  .  .  incidit :  i.e.  all  men 
who  are  at  variance  are  hard  to  deal  with,  in  proportion  to  their  valor. 
Hoc  is  correlative  to  quo,  with  about  the  same  force  as  if  molesti  and 
fortes  were  comparatives.        iure  :  rightly,  naturally. 

11.  adversum   bellum  :    the   adjective,  which   is  somewhat  re- 
dundant, has  the  same  general  force  as  in  i.  1.  103,  adversis  frontibus } 
it  suggests  a  hand-to-hand  fight. 

12.  animosum  :  a  common  epithet  of  Achilles ;  cf.  Ovid,  Heroid. 
viii.   1,  Pyrrhus  Achillides  animosus  imagine  patris.        atque :  for 
the  position  of  the  word,  cf.  atque  in  i.  6.  131. 

13.  capitalis  :  deadly,  i.e.  affecting  the  life  (caput).        ut  divi- 
deret :  a  consecutive  clause  without  an  introductory  demonstrative 
adverb ;  cf.  i.  1.  95,  dives,  ut  metiretur  nummos.        ultima   mors  : 
i.e.  death  alone. 

15.  vexet:  embroils;  cf.  Epist.  i.  3.  33,  vos  sen  calidus  sanguis 
sen  rerum  inscitia  vexat.        inertis :  cowards. 

16.  Diomedi  cum  .  .  .  Glauco  :  see  Iliad,  vi.  119  ff.    The  inci- 
dent had  become  proverbial ;  cf.  Plin.  Epist.  v.  2,  epistulas  ingratas  ac 
ne.  illam  quidem  sollertiam  Diomedis  in  permutando  munere  imitantes 
(note  illam). 

17.  pigrior :  Horace  seems  to  have  the  duos  inertis  in  mind,  since 
the  reason   of   Glaucus  for   declining  to    fight  was  not  cowardice. 
ultro :  into  the  bargain. 

18.  praetore  :  the  word  is  used  in  a  general  sense.    Brutus  and  Cas- 
sius  had  seized  the  province  of  Asia,  and  the  former  was  holding  court 
at  Clazomenae.     For  a  somewhat  similar  use  of  the  word,  cf.  i.  5.  34. 

19.  Rupili  et  Persi:  appositive  genitive  with  par.        par:  the 
pair,  a  term  used  of  gladiators.     Horace  is  fond  of  metaphors  derived 
from  gladiators  ;  see  note  on  i.  1.  103. 

20.  compositum :  sc.  par  sit ;  in  this  sense  par  is  neuter.    The 
ellipsis  of  the  subjunctive  copula  is  colloquial  usage.        cum  Bitho 
Baccbius :  two  gladiators  of  the  time.    The  phrase  is  appositive  to 
par  understood.        in  ius  :  into  court. 

21.  procurrunt :  like  gladiators  into  a  conflict. 

22.  Persius  exponit  causam :  Persius,  as  the  plaintiff,  speaks  first. 
ridetur :  the  subject,  as  well  as  that  of  the  following  laudat,  is  Persius. 

23.  conventu  :    the  court,  a  collective   noun  in  the  ablative  of 
agency.        cobortem :  his  staff,  the  comites  of  Brutus;  cf.  Epist.  i. 


PAGE  31.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  7.  217 

8.  14,   Ut  placeat  invent  percontare  atque  cohorti  (of  the   staff  of 
Tiberius). 

25.  canem  :  the  dog-star  (Sirius),  a  constellation  of  evil  repute, 
contrasted  with  Stellas  salubres.  On  the  general  subject  of  the  influ- 
ence of  the  constellations,  see  Odes,  ii.  17.  17-25.  ilium  :  he,  i.e. 
Rex. 

27.  fertur  .  .  .  securis :  i.e.  in  the  midst  of  the  primeval  forest  on 
the  mountain  tops,  one  of  the  few  really  poetical  expressions  in  the 
Sermones.    Its  introduction  heightens  the  comic  effect  by  contrast. 
For  the  general  principle,  see  note  on  i.  5.  3. 

28.  Praenestinus :   i.e.  Bex.     See   note  on  line  1.        salso  .  .  . 
fluenti :  against  him  with  his  torrent  of  bitter  wit.    The  two  adjec- 
tives, connected  by  -que,  modify  ei  understood,  referring  to  Persius. 

29.  expressa  :  wrung  from,  i.e.  by  the  taunt.     The  word  governs 
arbusto.        arbusto,   the  vineyard,  in  which   the  vine-dresser  is  at 
work.      The  passer-by   calls  out    'cuckoo,'  an    intimation   that  the 
cuckoo,  the  harbinger  of  spring,  has  come,  and  that  the  vine-dresser 
is  late  in  his  work.   The  latter  replies  with  such  a  flood  of  vituperation 
that  the  wayfarer  is  silenced  and  put  to  flight.     Cf.  Plin.  N.H.  xviii. 
249,  exprobrationem  foedam  putantium  vites  per  imitationem  cantus 
alitis  temporariae  quern  cuculum  vacant.   Arbustum  is  for  arbos-(e}  turn, 
and  really  refers  to  the  trees  on  which  the  vines  were  trained.     Cf. 
Odes,  ii.  15.  4. 

30.  vindemiator  :  a  vine-dresser,  with  whom  Rex  is,  in  Horace's 
usual  manner,  not  only  compared,  but  identified.     See  note  on  Tanta- 
lus, i.  1.  68.    The  word  is  here  scanned  with  four  syllables,  i  before  a 
being  treated  as  a  semi-vowel. 

31.  cuculum  :  probably  not  the  name  of  the  bird,  but  an  imitation 
of  its  note ;  cf.  the  passage  from  Pliny  cited  in  the  note  on  arbusto, 
line  29. 

32.  Graecus:    Persius,   whose    finer  wit  is  contrasted  with  the 
coarse  Italo  aceto.        aceto:  abuse,  satire;  used  in  the  same  sense 
by  Plaut.  Pseud.  739,  ecquid  is  homo  habet  aceti ;  JBacch.  405,  mine 
experior  sitne  aceto  tibi  cor  acre  in  pectore. 

34.  consueris :  subjunctive  in  a  characteristic  clause  with  accessory 
causal  force.     Persius  humorously  implies  that  it  runs  in   Bratus's 
family  to  kill  kings. 

35.  Regem :  Cicero  records  a  similar  pun  of  his  on  the  name  of 
Q.  Marcius  Rex,  in  ad  Att.  i.  16.  10,  lquo  usque,"1  inquit,  '  hunc  regem 
feremus?"1     'Regem  appellas,'  inquam,  '  cum  Rex  tui  nullam  men- 


218  BOOK   I.     SERMO  8.  [PAGE  32. 

.tionem  fecerit?"1  Ille  autem  Regis  hereditatem  spe  devoraret. 
operum  .  .  .  tuorum :  genitive  of  the  whole,  instead  of  hoc  tuum 
opus  est.  With  the  form  of  expression,  cf.  Odes,  iii.  13.  13,  Fies  nobi- 
lium  tit  quoque  fontium. 

SERMO  VIII. 

1.  inutile  lignum  :   fig-wood  seems  to  have  been  used  for  making 
wooden  statues.     Pliny,  N.H.  xvi.  209,  does  not  agree  with  Horace  as 
to  its  value ;  he  says :  levissimae  ex  his  (ficus,  salix,  tilia,  betulla, 
sabucus,  populus)  ficus  et  salix  ideoque  utilissimae.      Omnes  autem 
ad  cistas  quaeque  flexili  crate  constent  habiles.    Habent  et  candorem, 
rigorem  et  in  sculpturis  facilitatem.     It  split  easily  under  the  influence 
of  heat;  cf.  ii.  5.  29,  seu  rubra  Canicula  findet  infantes  statuas. 

2.  faceretne :   the  -ne  connects  scamnum  and  Priapum  ;  cf.  Odes, 
i.  30.  6,  solutis  Gratiae  zonis  properentque  Nymphae.        Priapum  : 
the  worship  of  this  god  originated  in  Lampsacus  ;  cf.  Hellespontiaci  in 
the  passage  from  Virgil  cited  on  line  4.     His  statues  were  placed  in 
gardens  as  the  symbol  of  fertility,  and  served  at  the  same  time  as 
scarecrows. 

3.  deum.  Deus  :  this  juxtaposition,  and  the  consequent  emphasis, 
heighten  the  comic  effect. 

4.  dextra :   the  god  usually  held  a  sickle  in  his  left  hand.     Cf. 
Virg.  Georg.  iv.  110,  Et  custos  furum  atque  avium  cum  falce  saligna, 
Hellespontiaci,  servet  tutela  Priapi. 

5.  ast :   see  note  on  i.  6.  125.         harundo  :   to  give  motion  to  the 
figure,  and  an  appearance  of  life,  a  reed  was  stuck  into  the  top  of  its 
head,  which  waved  in  the  wind. 

7.  novis  .  .  .  hortis:    the   newly  made  gardens;   see  Introd.  to 
this  Satire.     Cf.  Prop.  iv.  8.  1,  Disce,  quid  Esquilias  hac  nocte  fugarit 
aquosas,  Cum  vicina  novis  turba  cucurrit  agris. 

8.  angustis  eiecta  .  .  .  cellis :    i.e.  cast  out  of  the  narrow  cells 
which  served  as  their  bed-rooms.    Cf.  Cic.  Phil.  ii.  27,  67,  conchyliatis 
Cn.  Pompeii  peristromatis  servorum  in  cellis  lectos  stratos  videres. 

9.  conservus  :  probably  collective.      The  slaves  of  a  household 
often  formed  burial  associations.     Cf.  C.I.L.  vi.  10262,  collegium  quod 
est  in  domo  Sergiae  Paullinae ;  etc.,  etc.        portanda  locabat :  made 
a  contract  for  carrying.     Cf.   Odes,  ii.  18.  18,   Tu  secanda  marmora 
Locas  sub  ipsum  funus. 

10.  hoc  :   here,  lit.  this,  in  agreement  with  sepulcrum,        miserae 


PAGE  33.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  8.  219 

plebi :  i.e.  free  citizens  of  small  means,  who  could  not  afford  private 
tombs,  but  belonged  to  burial  societies.  Pantolabus  and  Nomentanus 
are  cited  as  types  of  this  class  ;  cf.  ii.  1.  22. 

12.  cippus  :   the  boundary  stone,  with  an  inscription  defining  the 
limits  of  the  burial  place,  which  had  a  frontage  of  1000  feet  and  a 
depth  of  300.    Porph.  says :   eleganter  Pantolabo  et  Nomentano,  qui 
bona  sua  comederant,  lata  monimenta  praestare  nunc  dicitur,  scilicet 
quia  privata  habere  non  poterant. 

13.  heredes  .  .  .  sequeretur  :   i.e.  with  the  injunction  that  the 
monument  (and  the  lot)  should  not  descend  to  the  heirs  of  the  person 
or  persons  who  gave  it  to  the  society.     Stipulative  subjunctive ;  see 
In  trod.  §  45.  c.     The  usual  form  of  the  inscription,  which  is  of  very 
frequent  occurrence,  is  hoc  monumentum  heredes  non  sequetur,  gen- 
erally indicated  by  the  initials  H-IVI  H  N  S- 

14.  Esquiliis  habitare  salubribus  :  to  find  the  Esquiline  a  health- 
ful dwelling-place.     Note  the  emphatic  position  of  the  adjective. 

15.  aggere :  the  embankment,  which  took  the  place  of  the  wall 
of   Servius  Tullius  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  city,  where  the 
natural  slope  did  not  admit  a  wall.     Portions  of  the  outer  retaining 
wall  of  the  agger  still  exist  in  situ,  and  parts  of  the  murus  are  found 
elsewhere.     Cf.  Juv.  vi.  588,  Plebeium  in  circo  positum  est  et  in  aggere 
fatum  •  viii.  43,  and  Mayor's  note.         modo :  but  now,  a  short  time 
ago.        tristes:  gloomily. 

17.  cum :  while,  referring  back  to  nunc  licet,  as  the  tenses  show. 
Although  the   Esquiline  had  been  improved,  and  its  worst  features 
eliminated,  the  tombs  were  allowed  to  stand,  and  the  place  was  there- 
fore  infested  by  sorcerers  whose  charms  were  sought  in  graveyards. 
ferae :   a  substantive  formed  by  the  ellipsis  of  bestiae.     See  note  on 
venalis,  \.  1.  47.         sue'tae  :  scanned  with  three  syllables  ;  cf.  insuevit. 
i.  4.  105 ;  consueris,  i.  7.  34  ;  and  for  a  parallel  to  suetae,  Lucr.  i.  60, 
appellare  suemus. 

18.  curae  ...  labor!  .-   final  datives. 

19.  carminibus  atque  venenis  :  spells  and  potions.     The  former 
were  in  metrical  form.        versant :  practise  on. 

21.  vaga  luna  :   a  conventional  epithet ;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  742,  hie 
canit  errantem  lunam. 

22.  protulit  os :   cf.  Virg.  Aen.  viii.  591,  Qualis  ubi  oceani  per- 
fusus  Lucifer  unda  .  .  .  Extulit  os  sacrum  caelo  tenebrasque  resolvit. 
ossa  legant :   a  conventional  expression  ;  cf.  Prop.  ii.  24.  50,  vix  venit 
extremo  quae  legat  ossa  die.     Objects  connected  with  death  were  sup- 


220  BOOK  I.    SERMO  8.  [PAGE  33. 

posed  to  have  especial  efficacy  in  magic  rites.     Cf.  Epod.  5.  17,  iubet 
sepulcris  capriftcos  erutas. 

23.  vidi  egomet :   these  words  suggest  a  parody  of  the  heroic 
style,  as  was  observed  by  the  Comm.  Cruq.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  iii.  623, 
Vidi  egomet,  duo  de  numero  cum  corpora  nostro  .  .  .  ,  and  see  note 
on  i.  5.  3.        nigra  :  black  was  associated  with  death  and  with  the 
deities  of  the  underworld  ;  see  line  27  below.     With  the  whole  descrip- 
tion, cf.  Ovid,  Met.  vii.  182,  vestes  induta  recinctas,  Huda  pedem,  nudos 
umeris  infusa  capillos. 

24.  Canidia:    cf.  Epod.  5  and  17.     The  scholiasts  say  that  her 
real  name  was  Gratidia,  and  that  the  name  Canidia,  which  Horace 
applies  to  her,  was  derived  from  canities  (gray  hair).     She  is  said 
to  have  been  an  unguentaria  of  Naples,  with  whom  Horace  had  once 
been  in  love.     Note  that  the  quantity  and  the  number  of  the  syllables 
in  Canidia  and  Gratidia  agree.     Thus  Terentia  is  called  Licymnia  in 
Odes,  ii.  12.  23,  where  see  Bennett's  note. 

25.  maiore  :   probably  referring  to  age.        ululantem  :  this  word 
is  usually  used  of  the  cries  of  women  as  distinguished  from  the  shouts 
of  men  ;  and  frequently  of  chants  and  incantations.     Cf.  Plin.  Epist. 
vi.  20,  audires  ululatus  feminarum,  infantum  quiritatus,  clamores  viro- 
rum  •  Ovid.  Met.  vii.  190,  ternis  ululatibus  ora  solvit  (Medea);  xiv. 
405.        utrasque  :  the  pair.     The  plural  of  uterque  is  used  of  groups, 
and  also  of  individuals  who  are  associated  closely  together,  as  col- 
leagues or  the  like.     Cf.  Caes.  E.G.  i.  63,  utraeque  (Ariovisti  uxores) 
in  ea  fuga  perierunt. 

26.  scalpere  terram  :   the  digging  of  a  trench  was  a  regular 
feature  of  rites  involving  the  deities  of  the  underworld.      Cf.  Odyss. 
xi.  36  ff.     In  such  work  iron  must  not  be  used  ;  hence  unguibus. 

27.  pullam  :  black  victims  were  regular  in  such  rites.      Pullus 
(cognate  with  Greek  7re\X6s  and  Latin  palleo}  is  frequently  used  of 
mourning,  the  dead,  etc.,  but  not  invariably  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  25.  18  ;  Ovid, 
Am.  ii.  4.  41,  Sen  pendent  nivea  pulli  cervice  capilli :  Leda  fuit  nigra 
conspicienda  coma.        mordicus :  adverb,  with  their  teeth. 

28.  confusus:  i.e.  they  poured  the  blood  into  the  ditch  together 
(hence  con-},  each  from  the  part  of  the  lamb  which  she  held.        inde : 
from  it,  i.e.  the  ditch. 

29.  animas :  in  apposition  with  manes. 

30.  et=  etiam,  also.     On  this  rite,  cf.  Virg.  Eel  viii.  80  ff.;  Ovid, 
Heroid.  vi.  91,  Devovet  absentis  simulacraque  cereafingit,  Etmiserum 
tennis  in  iecur  urget  acus. 


PAGE  33.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  8.  221 

31.  inferiorem  :  contrasted  with  maior. 

32.  servilibus  modis  :  i.e.  in  torture,  which  was  applied  only  to 
slaves.        ut  quae   .    .    .    peritura :    sc.   esset.     A  clause   of  char- 
acteristic.    The  ellipsis  of  the  subjunctive  copula  is  colloquial  usage. 

33.  altera :    Canidia,    as  the  leader   (cf.   lines  24-25)    calls  on 
Hecate,  the  queen  of  inagic  rites.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi.  247,  voce  vocans 
Hecaten  Caeloque  Ereboque  potentem. 

34.  serpentis :    present  because  of    their    connection   with   the 
furies  and  their  general  evil  repute  ;  cf.,  however,  i.  3.  27. 

35.  infernas   canes:   regular  attendants  on   Hecate.     Cf.    Virg. 
Aen.  vi.  257,  visaeque  canes  ululare  per  umbram  Adeentante  dea. 
Note  the  gender.         mbentem  :  the  deep  red  of  the  setting  moon  is 
described  as  a  blush  of  shame,  as  it  hides  its  face  behind  the  tombs. 

40.  alterna  loquentes  :  i.e.  answering  her  questions. 

41.  umbrae :  the  ghosts  (manes  in  line  29)  which  they  had  con- 
jured up  by  their  incantations.          triste  et  acutum  :  accusative  of 
the  inner  object.     Cf.  sonabit  quod,  i.  6.  43,  and   the  note.     The 
shades  spoke  with  a  thin,  squeaking  voice.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi.  493, 
pars  tollere    vocem    exiguam ;    Shakespeare,    Hamlet,   i.    1,    "The 
sheeted  dead  Did  squeak  and  gibber  in  the  Roman  streets." 

42.  lupi  barbarn  :   cf.  Plin.  N.H.  xxviii.  157,  veneficiis  rostrum 
lupi  resistere  inveteratum  aiunt,  ob  idque  mllarum  portis  praejigunt. 
variae  :  spotted.     With  the  whole  passage,  cf.  Shakespeare,  Macbeth, 
iv.  1. 

43.  cerea :   scanned  as  a  dissyllable  ;    cf.  ostrea,  ii.  2.  21,  and 
aureo  in  Virg.  Aen.  x.  116,  solio  tumluppiter  aureo  Surgit,  caelicolae 
medium  quern  ad  limina  ducunt.      The  ablative  is  causal, — the  fire 
blazed  higher  as  the  waxen  image  melted  and  flowed  into  it. 

44.  noninultus:  because  he  frightened  the  witches  as  much  as 
they  had  frightened  him  ;  for,  as  they  are  engaged  in  their  rites,  the 
wooden  statue  splits  with  a  loud  explosion.     See  note  on  line  1. 

48.  dentes  :  false  teeth.     See  the  passage  from  Porph.  cited  in  the 
next  note.         caliendrum  :  wig,  apparently  a  high  head-dress  of  hair. 
Porph.  says :  iocatur  in  has,  quasi  altera  dentibus  adpositis  uti  solita 
sit,  altera  quod  glabrafuerit  caliendrum,  id  est  galericum,  habere  con- 
suesset. 

49.  incantata   .    .    .    vincula  :  enchanted  love-knots.     Cf.  Virg. 
Eel.  viii.  73,  Terna  tibi  haec  primum  triplici  diversa  colore  Licia  cir- 
cumdo. 

50.  videres:  you  could  see,'  see  note  on  i.  5.  76. 


222  BOOK   I.     SERMO  9.  [PAGE  34. 


SERMO  IX. 

1.  ibam  forte  :   /  chanced  to  be  strolling.         Via  Sacra :  the 
Sacra  Via,  as  it  was  usually  called,  ran  from  the  Esquiline,  through 
the  Forum,  to  the  foot  of  the  Capitoline  Hill,  where  it  joined  the  clivus 
Capitolinus.     Of.  Odes,  iv.  2.  35,  quandoque  trahet  feroces  Per  sacrum 
clivum  merita  decorus  Fronde  Sygambros.       sicut  .  .  .  mos :  refer- 
ring to  meditans. 

2.  nescio  quid  .  .  .  nugarum :  some  trifle  or  other,  perhaps  a 
composition  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  19.  42  ;  ii.  2.  141  ;  Catull.  i.  4,  namque  tu 
solebas  Meas  esse  aliquid  putare  nugas.     Porph.  says :   sic  verecunde 
poetae  nugas  et  lusus  solent  appellare  versiculos  suos.     The  word  is, 
however,  common  in  Horace  in  a  general  sense.     Cf.  ii.  6.  43,  vellet 
.  .  .  cui  concedere  nugas  hoc  genus.         totus  in  illis :  wholly  ab- 
sorbed in  them.     Cf.  Epist.  i.  1.  11,  omnis  in  hoc  sum. 

3.  accurrit :  rushes  up.     This   word  and   arrepta  manu  vividly 
picture  the   man's   offensive   familiarity.  quidam  :    a  fellow. 
Horace  does  not  name  him,  and  the  whole  incident  may  be  fictitious. 

4.  quid  agis  :  how  are  you  f    This  was  a  common  and  familiar 
greeting.     Cf.  Mart.  ii.  67,  Occurris  quocumque  loco  mihi,  Postume, 
clamas  Protinus,  et  prima  est  haec  tua  vox  '  quid  agis  ? '         dulcis- 
sime  rerum  :  my  dear  fellow,  a  still  more  familiar  greeting.    Cf.  Ovid, 
Ars  Amat.  i.  213,  pulcherrime  rerum;  Heroid.  iv.  125. 

5.  suaviter  :  sc.  ago,  very  well.    Horace  replies  politely  and  thereby 
loses  his  opportunity  of  ridding  himself  of  the  man  at  once.     Of  course 
there  is  no  conscious  ellipsis.        ut  nunc  est :  at  present.        cupio 
.  .  .  quae  vis :   a  conventional  form  of  address.     Cf.    Plaut.    Pers. 
766,  omnia  quae  tu  vis,  ea  cupio. 

6.  adsectaretur :  would  join  me  ;  the  imperfect  has  a  conative 
force.         numquid  vis  :  a  hint  that  he  does  not  care  to  prolong  the 
interview,  since  the  formula   '  there's  nothing  I  can  do  for  you,  I'm 
sure  '  (note  num)  was  one  of  leave-taking,  something  like  *  that's  all, 
isn't  it?' 

7.  noris   nos  :   yes,  make  my   acquaintance.      Noris  is  probably 
subjunctive,  as  in  the  parallel  passage  in  Plaut.  Mil.  575,  numquid 
nunc  aliud~me  vis?      Ne  me  noveris ;  cf.  Capt.  191,  numquid  vis? 
Venias  temperi.        docti :  a  man  of  parts  ;  doctus  is  used  especially 
of  literary  ability  (cf.  Epist.  i.  19.  I,  docte  Maecenas ;  Tibull.  iii.  6. 
41,  docte  Catulle).     In  this  case,  however,  other  accomplishments  are 
included,  as  we  see  from  line  22.         pluris  .  .  .  eris  :  /  shall  like  you 


PAGE  35.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  9.  223 

the  better  for  that.     The  weakness  of  making  this  amiable  rejoinder 
seals  Horace's  fate. 

8.  misere :   dreadfully,  a  colloquial  use  of  the  word  common  in 
comedy,  and  doubtless  in  the  language  of  every-day  life. 

9.  ire  .   .  .   consistere   .    .  .    dicere :   the  historical   infinitives 
well  express  Horace's  efforts  to  escape  from  his  tormentor. 

10.  puero :  my  slave,  a  pedisequus,  or  page.         ad  imos   .    .   . 
talos  :  to  my  very  heels,  i.e.  from  head  to  foot ;  the  full  expression, 
which  is  a  very  common  one,  occurs  in  Epist.  ii.  2.  4,  talos  a  vertice 
pulcher  ad  imos. 

11.  Bolane :    evidently  a  man  noted  for  his  short  temper,  other- 
wise  unknown.  cerebri  felicem  :     happy  in   thy  hot  temper. 
Cerebri  is  genitive  with  felicem,  an  extension  of  the  regular  genitive 
with  adjectives,  doubtless  stimulated  by  the  genitive  of  specification  in 
Greek;  see  Introd.  §  40.  a.     For  the  meaning,  cf.  cerebrosus,  i.  5.  21. 

12.  tacitus :  i.e.  to  myself.         quidlibet  .   .  .  garriret :   chat- 
tered on  all  sorts  of  subjects.      Quidlibet  is  accusative  of  the  inner 
object;  cf.  i.  10.  41  garrire  libellos;  ii.  6.  77,  Cervius  garrit  aniles  ex 
re  fabellas. 

13.  vices  :  the  streets. 

14.  nil   respondebam  :  continued  to   make  no  reply,  imperfect 
of   continued    action.     The    imperfect    indicative  with    ut   is   rare. 
misere  cupis :  you"1  re  dreadfully  anxious.     Cf.  line  8. 

16.  persequar  :  Pll  stick  to  you.         hinc  :  next,  i.e.  from  here. 

17.  circumagi  :    to  be  taken  out  of  your  way.         quendam  :  a 
man.        non  tibi  notum  :  a  hint  that  it  would  be  better  for  the  bore 
not  to  go  with  him. 

18.  cubat :  is  sick  abed.     Cf.  ii.  3.  289,  pueri  menses  iam  quinque 
cnhantis;  Epist.  ii.  2.  68,  cubat  hie  in  colle  Quirini.        Caesaris  hor- 
tbs  :  on  the  Janiculum  near  the  Tiber.     They  were  left  by  Julius 
Caesar  to  the  people  of  Rome.     Shakespeare,  Julius  Caesar,  iii.  2, 
wrongly  places  them  '  on  this  side  Tiber. ' 

19.  nil  habeo  quod  agam  :  Pve  nothing  to  do,  entirely  forgetting 
the  engagement  referred  to  in  line  36.        usque  =  usque  eo,  even  as  far 
as  that,  i.e.  IUI  go  all  the  way  with  you. 

20.  demitto  auriculas  :  a  proverbial  expression ;  cf.  in  English 
the  opposite,  '  prick  up  one's  ears. '    The  diminutive  (cf.  French  oreille} 
is  colloquial.        iniquae  mentis  aselltja  :   a  stubborn  ass.     On  the 
diminutive,  see  the  preceding  note. 

21.  dorso  :  instrumental  ablative  ;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  ii.  708,  ipse  subibo 


224  BOOK   I.     SERMO  9.  [PAGE  35. 

umeris.  For  the  use  of  the  word,  see  note  on  armos,  i.  6. 106.  Perhaps 
also  ablative  of  comparison  with  gravius,  dirb  KOLVOV.  subiit :  the 
original  long  quantity  of  the  final  syllable  is  preserved  for  metrical 
reasons.  Cf.  i.  4.  82,  and  the  note.  incipit  ille  :  after  having  frus- 
trated Horace's  efforts  to  get  rid  of  him,  the  bore  begins  his  monologue. 

22.  si  bene  me  novi:  a  colloquial  expression:  cf.  Epist.  i.  18,  1, 
si  bene  te  novi.        Viscum :  an  intimate  friend  of  Horace  and  of  Mae- 
cenas.    See  i.  10.  83,  and  ii.  8.  20. 

23.  Varium :  see  note  on  i.  5.  4.         quis  scribere  pluris  :  how 
poor  a  recommendation  to  Horace's  favor  this  was  is  seen  from  i.  4. 
14  ff. 

24.  membra  movere   mollius  :    dance   more  gracefully.      This 
accomplishment,  too,  was  not  highly  esteemed.     Cf.  ii.  1.  24,  and  Cic. 
Murena,  6.  13,  nemo  fere  saltat  sobrius,  nisi  forte  insanit,  neque  in 
solitudine,  neque  in  convivio  moderato  atque  honesto.    Note  the  allit- 
eration. 

25.  Hermogenes  :  see  i.  4.  72. 

26.  locus:  a  good  place. 

27.  quis:  dative.     See  note  on  i.  1.  1. 

28.  composui :  laid  them  to  rest ;  used  properly  of  collecting  the 
ashes  and  depositing  them  in  the  urn.     Cf .  Prop.  ii.  24.  25,  Tu  mea 
compones  et  dices  '  ossa,  Property  Haec  tua  sunt ;  heu,  heu  tu  mihi 
certus  eras.' 

28-34.   felices  .  .  .  aetas  :  unquestionably  an  aside  ;  so  Porph.  : 
hoc  Horatius  tacitus  apud  se  dicit. 

29.  confice :  finish  me,  i.e.  give  me  the  death  stroke,  implying 
that  he  talked  his  relatives  to  death.         Sabella  :  the  Sabellian  peo- 
ples, especially  the  Marsi  and  Paeligni,  were  notorious  for  the  practice 
of  witchcraft.     Cf.  Epod.  5.  76  ;  7.  28  ;  17.  29,  60. 

30.  divina  urna  :   the  urn   in  which  the  lots  were  placed  and 
shaken  (mota)  before  they  were  drawn ;  hence  divina,  as  if  the  urn 
itself  had  magic  power.     Cf.  Odes,  ii.  3.  26,  omnium  Versatur  urnn 
serins  ocius  Sors  exitura ;  iii.  1.  16,  Omne  capax  movet  urna  nomcn. 

31.  dira  venena  :  poisoning  was  very  prevalent  in  Rome.     Cf.  ii. 
1.  48  and  53-56;  ii.  3.  131  ;  Cic.  pro  Cluent.;  and  Mayor's  long  and 
interesting  note  on  Juv.  i.  71.         hosticus:  a  poetic  word,  here  used 
to  give  an  epic  effect  to  the  prophetic  utterance.     So  also  ensis,  in- 
stead of  yladius,  corresponding  to  English  'falchion,'  'glave.' 

32.  laterum  dolor:  pleurisy.        tussis  :  cough,  i.e.  consumption. 
tarda  podagra:   crippling  gout,  i.e.  which  makes  one  slow.     Cf. 


PAGE  36.]  BOOK  I.     SERMO  9.  225 

Prop.  ii.  1.  59,  Tarda  Philoctetae  sanavit  crura  Machaon ;  and  with 
the  use  of  the  adjective  to  denote  the  effect,  pallida  mors,  Odes,  i.  4.  13. 
33.   quando  .  .  .  cumque  —  aliquando.    Cf.  Ovid,  Metam.  vi.  544, 
quandocumque  mihi poenas  dabis.    Note  the  tmesis,  and  cf.  i.  1.  86. 

35.  ventum   erat :    we   had  come.        Vestae  :    with  ellipsis  of 
templum  or  aedem ;  the  same  construction  occurs  in  Greek  and  in 
English:  e.g.  he  went  to  St.  Paul's.     Horace  would  pass  the  temple 
as  he  crossed  the  Forum  to  the  Vicus  Tuscus.  on  his  way  across  the 
Tiber.         quarta  parte  diei  praeterita  :  i.e.  it  was  after  the  begin- 
ning of  the  fourth  hour.    Horace  was  out  unusually  early  ;  cf.  i.  6.  122, 
ad  quartam  iaceo.     This  was  the  time  for  transacting  legal  business  ; 
cf.  Mart.   iv.  8.  2   f.,  Exercet  raucos  tertia  causidicos,  In  quintam 
varios  extendit  Roma  labores. 

36.  reapondere :  i.e.  to  appear  in  court,  as  he  had  given  bail  to 
do  on  that  day.        vadato :  probably  an  impersonal  ablative  absolute 
with  causal  force,  since  respondere  in  this  "sense  is  used  absolutely. 

37.  fecisset:    subjunctive  in    implied  indirect  discourse,   repre- 
senting the  future  perfect  fecerit  (i.e.  respondent  of  the  law).        per- 
dere  litem:    sc.  debebat,    to   lose   his  case,  which,   in  case  of  his 
non-appearance,  would  be  decided  against  him  by  default. 

38.  si  me  amas  :  I  pray  you.    In  this  colloquial  expression,  which 
in  ordinary  conversation  doubtless  formed  a  word  group  with  a  single 
accent,  we  have  a  semi-elision  (and  semi-hiatus)  of  me,  with  shorten- 
ing of  the  e,  as  in  Greek.     Cf.  Epod.  5.  100  ;  Virg.  Eel.  viii.  103,  credi- 
mus  ?  an  qui  amant  ?    Aen.  vi.  507,  te,  amice,  nequivi  conspicere. 
ades  :  give  me  your  help,  as  advocatus.     Cf.  the  pseudo-Asconius  on 
Cic.  Div.  in  Caecil.  4.  11,  qui  defendit  alterum  in  iudicio  aut  patronus 
dicitur  si  orator  est,  aut  advocatus  si  aut  ius  suggerit  aut  prae- 
sentiam  suam  commodat  amico.         inteream :   hang  me ;  cf.  dis- 
peream,  in  line  47.    The  latter  is  common  in  comedy,  while  the  former 
belongs  rather  to  the  sermo  cotidianus  of  the  more  cultivated  classes. 

39.  stare  :  Horace  declines  for  three  reasons  :  (1)  he  is  not  strong 
enough  to  stand  in  court  during  the  trial ;  (2)  he  .has  no  knowledge  of 
civil  law  ;  (3)  he  has  other  business.     That  the  first  reason  is  not  con- 
sistent with  the  third,  since  his  errand  involved  a  long  walk  across  the 
Tiber,  is  of  no  significance  under  the  circumstances. 

40.  faciam  .  .  .  relinquam :  indirect  deliberatives ;  cf.  inflet .  .  . 
dicat,  i.  1.  20. 

41.  rem  :  my  case;  pro  lite  dixit,  Porph.        socles:  pray,  please, 
for  si  audes,  a  colloquial  expression.     Cf.  Cic.  Orat.  45,  154,  libenter 


226  BOOK  I.     SERMO  9.  [PAGE  36. 

copulando  verba  iungeban  ,  ut  Codes'1  pro  'si  audes,"1  'sis'  pro  'si 
vis: 

42.  ut  durum:  sc.  est.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  24.  19,  durum:  sed  levins  fit 
patientia  ;  Ter.  Phorm.  238,  illud  durum  (estj. 

43.  Maecenas  quomodo  tecum :   sc.  agit :   on  what  terms  are 
you  and  Maecenas  ?•  The  principal  object  of  the  bore  is  to  be  presented 
to  Horace's  friend  and  patron.     It  must  be  remembered  that  the  ellip- 
sis is  not  a  conscious  one,  any  more  than  in  similar  expressions  in 
English. 

44.  nine  repetit :  sc.  sermonem,  he  begins  again.        paucorum 
hominum  :  genitive  of  quality.      Cf.  Ter.  Eun.  409,  immo  sic  homost : 
paucorum    hominum.      Immo   nullorum   arbitror.       It  seems  most 
natural  to  assign  these  words,  especially  nemo  .  .  .  usus,  to  the  bore. 
Porph.  attributes  them   to   Horace.          mentis  bene  sanae :     of 
very  sound  judgment. 

45.  haberes  .  .  .  velles  :  the  condition  contrary  to  fact  shows 
that  the  man  knows  that  Horace  is  unwilling  to  grant  his  request ; 
you  would  have  .  .  .  if  you  were  only  willing. 

46.  secundas  :  sc.  partes,  '  second  fiddle."1     The  expression  is  of 
course  used  with  reference  to  the  drama.     Cf.  Plaut.  Merc.  276,  metuo 
ne  illaec  simiae  partis  ferat;  Cic.  Brut.  69.  242,  Q.  Arrius,  qui  fuit 
M.  Crassi  quasi  secundarum. 

47.  hunc  hominem  :  your  humble  servant,  also  from  the  language 
of  comedy.     Cf.  Ter.  Heaut.  356,  tibi  erunt  parata  verba,  huic  homini 
verbera.        tradere :  introduce,  the  regular  word  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  9.  3 ; 
i.  18.  78. 

48.  ni  submosses   omnis :   if  you  would  not  have  cleared  the 
field,  i.e.  si  hunc  hominem  tradere  voluisses.    The  bore,  after  hinting 
at  the  advantage   which   Horace  would  gain  by  presenting  him  to 
Maecenas,  adds,  '  why  (if  you  had  done  so  already),  you  would  now 
have  rid  yourself  of  your  rivals,  and  would  be  supreme  in  his  favor.' 
On  the  form,  see  note  on  i.  5.  79.        isto  .  .  .  modo  :  as  you  suppose, 
i.e.  in  trying  to  supplant  one  another  in  Maecenas's  favor.     Note  the 
force  of  isto.        illic  :  i.e.  in  the  circle  of  Maecenas. 

49.  purior  :   more  free  from,  governing  malis  in  common  with 
aliena. 

50.  inquam :  I  assure  you;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  8.  13,  ridet  hoc,  inquam, 
Venus  ipsa;  Serm.  ii.  7.  22  ;  ii.  8.  27. 

51.  hie  :  so  and  so  ;   this  man,  for  example. 

52.  magnum  :  a  splendid  state  of  affairs.    The  words  imply  incre- 


PAGE  36.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  9.  227 

dulity.        atqui  sic  habet :  sc.  res,  yet  it's  so,  in  spite  of  your  dis- 
belief. 

53.  accendis  .  .  .  esse :  you  fire  me  with  still  greater  desire  to 
be  his  friend;  quare  cupiam  (  for  ut  ea  re  cupiam)  is  a  relative  clause 
of  result. 

54.  veils  tantummodo  :  you  have  only  to  wish  it.    Horace's  sense 
of  humor  leads  him  to  encourage  the  fellow.        quae  .  .  .  expug- 
nabis :  your  merit  is  such  that  you  will  take  him  by  storm. 

56.  difficilis:  predicate  adjective.  aditus  primes:  outposts, 
keeping  up  the  figure  of  expugnabis  and  vinci.  For  Maecenas's  caution 
with  regard  to  Horace  himself,  see  i.  6.  61,  abeo  :  et  revocas  nono  post 
mense.  baud  mini  dero  :  the  bore  takes  Horace's  w^rds  seriously 
and  begins  to  lay  plans  as  ill-suited  as  possible  to  win  the  friendship 
of  a  man  like  Maecenas.  For  the  form  of  dero,  cf.  ii.  1.  17  ;  ii.  2.  98  ; 
Epist.  i.  12.  24. 

58.  exclusus  fuero  =  exclusus  ero,  a  colloquialism.        tempora : 
favorable   opportunities,    when  Maecenas   cannot  escape  him.      Cf. 
Virg.  Aen.   iv.  293,    temptaturum  aditus  et  quae  mollissima  fandi 
Tempora. 

59.  dedacam :  escort  him,  from  his  house  to  the  forum.    Cf.  Cic. 
de  Sen.  18.  63,  haec  ipsa  sunt  honorabilia  .  .  .  decedi,  assurgi,  deduci, 
reduci.         nil  ...  mortalibus :    an   example   of   Horace's  humor. 
The  noble  sentiment  is    ludicrously   inappropriate   to   the    circum- 
stances. 

60.  haec  dum  agit :  i.e.  while  he  is  running  on. 

61.  Fuscus  Aristius  :  an  intimate  friend  ;  see  Odes,  i.  22  ;  Epist. 
i.  10.     Horace  hopes  to  make   his   escape  through  Fuscus,  but  the 
latter  sees  the  humor  of  the  situation  and  has  a  little  amusement  at 
his  friend's  expense.     On  the  inversion  of  the  nomen  and  cognomen, 
see  note  on  i.  4.  72. 

62.  qui  pulchre  nosset :  who  knew  him  well,  subjunctive  of  char- 
acteristic.   The  expression  is  colloquial ;  cf.  Cic.  Fam.  x.  23,  Lepidum 
pulcre  noram.        unde  venis  et  quo  tendis :  a  common  form  of 
salutation  ;  cf.  ii.  4.  1,  unde  et  quo  Catius  ? 

63.  rogat  et  respondet :  sc.  Aristius;  we  ask  each  other ;  lit.  he 
c*ks  and  replies.         vellere  :  to  pull  at  his  toga. 

64.  pressare  :    to  pinch,   intensive   of  premere.        lentissima  : 
unresponsive,  because  he  refuses  to  take  the  hint. 

65.  male  salsus  :  with  mischievous  wit.    For  the  metaphorical 
use  of  salsus,  cf.  i.  7.  28,  salso  multoque  Jluenti. 


228  BOOK  I.     SERMO  9.  [PAGE  3G. 

66.  dissimulate :  pretends  not  to  notice.    Dissimulare  and  itrere 
are  historical  infinitives  ;  cf.  line  9.        iecur  urere  bilis  :  cf.  Odes, 
i.  13.  3,  fervens  difficili  bile  tumet  iecur.    The  liver  was  often  regarded 
as  the  seat  of  the  emotions. 

67.  nescio :  the  regular  quantity  in  the  combination  nescio  quis. 

69.  tricesima    sabbata  :     perhaps   asyndeton    for    tricesima   et 
sabbata,  the  thirtieth   (of  the  month),  and  a  holiday.      Very  likely 
no  particular  festival  is  referred  to,  but  the  term  is  invented  by  Fuscus. 
There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  he  was  acquainted  with  the  minutiae 
of  Jewish  rites.        vin  tu  :  you  surely  do  not  wish,  do  you  ?  implying 
a  negative  answer,  while  vis  tu  simply  asks  a  question. 

70.  oppedere  :  insult,  a  coarse  expression. 

71.  infirmior  :  less  strong-minded. 

73.  surrexe  :  infinitive  in  an  exclamation,  a  construction  common 
in  comedy,  but  found  in  Horace  only  in  Epod.  8.  1  ;  Semi.  ii.  4.  83 ; 
ii.  8.  67.     For  the  form,  see  note  on  i.  5.  79.    The  opposite  expression 
to  solem  nigrum  surrexe  occurs  in  Catull.  8.  3,  fulsere  quondam  can- 
didi  mihi  soles. 

74.  sub  cultro  :  like  a  victim  at  the  altar. 

75.  adversarius:   the  person  referred  to  in  line  37.     He  might 
have  won  his  case  by  default,  but  apparently  preferred  to  have  it  set- 
tled regularly  in  court.    His  appearance  at  this  time  adds  to  the  humor 
of  the  situation. 

76.  licet  antestari :  may  I  call  you  to  witness  the  arrest.    Ac- 
cording to  the  Twelve  Tables,   a  plaintiff  had  the  right,  in  case  a 
person  whom  he  summoned  refused  to  go  into  court,  to  seize  him, 
after  first  appealing  to  a  witness.     The  law  is  quoted  by  Porph. :  Si  in 
ius  vocat,  ni  it,  antestamino ;  igitur  en  capito  (Holder's  text). 

77.  oppono  auriculam  :  as  a  warning  to  remember  the  summons, 
the  summoner  touched  the  ear  of  the  witness.     Cf.  Plin.  N.H.  xi.  251, 
est  in  aure  ima  memoriae  locus,  quern  tangentes  antestamur.     On 
auriculam.  see  note  on  auriculas,  line  20. 

78.  servavit  Apollo :    Porph.  says,  hoc  de  illo  sensu  Homerico 
sumpsit,  quern  et  Lucilius  in  sexto  satyrarum  repraesentavit  sic  dicens  : 
ut  discerperet  hac;  rbvb  ttfpTra&v  'Atr6\\wv. 

SERMO   X. 

The   first  eight  lines  are  lacking  in  some  of  the   manuscripts  of 
Horace,  and  are  without  doubt  spurious.     They  must  be  earlier  than 


PAGE  38.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  10.  229 

the  tenth  century,  since  they  appear  in  some  manuscripts  of  that  date, 
but  the  exact  time  of  their  composition  and  their  authorship  are  un- 
certain. 

1.  teste  Catone  :  the  reference  is  to  P.  Valerius  Cato,  whose  life 
is  sketched  by  Suet,  de  Gramm.  11.  He  seems  to  have  prepared  an 
edition  of  Lucilius,  whose  works  he  read  with  the  grammarian  Vettius 
Philocomus  (see  Suet,  de  Gramm.  2). 

4.  melior  vir:   an  abler  man;  cf.  ii.  1.  29,  Lucili  ritu  nostrum 
melioris  utroque.        longe  subtilior  :  this  form  of  comparison  (with 
longe)  is  not  found  elsewhere  in  Horace,  who  uses  multo.     Cf.  Odes, 
ii.  8.  7  ;  Serm.  ii.  8.  89,  etc. ;  and  see  note  on  ii.  5.  73.        illo  :  refer- 
ring to  another  editor  of  Lucilius.    The  use  of  ille  and  illo  of  two 
different  persons  in  the  same  sentence  is  an  awkward  construction. 

5.  funibus  udis :  rope's  ends,  wetted  in  order  to  strike  a  heavier 
blow. 

6.  poetis  antiquis  :  Naevius,  Ennius,  and  the  other  earlier  poets, 
whom  the  boy  was  to  be  trained  to  defend. 

7.  grammaticorum  .  .  .  doctissimus :  in  apposition  with  puer; 
who  is  referred  to  is  not  known. 

1.  nempe  .  .  .  dixi :  true,  I  did  say,  with  reference  to  i.  4.  8. 
incomposito:  rude,  unformed;  cf.  durus  componere  versus,  i.  4.  8. 
currere  :  cf.  i.  4.  11,  cum  Jlueret  lutulentus. 

2.  tarn  .  .  .  inepte  :  modifies  the  verbal  noun  fautor,  which  with 
est  =favet. 

3.  idem :    at  the  same  time,  he.         sale  multo  .  .  .  defricuit : 
rubbed  down  the  city  with  plenty  of  salt ;  sale  must  be  taken  in  its 
literal  sense  with   defricuit,  but  the  whole  expression  is  of  course 
metaphorical ;  cf.  i.  9.  65  and  the  note  ;  Epist.  ii.  2.  60,  hie  delectatur 
iambis,  Ille  Bioneis  sermonibus  et  sale  nigro. 

4.  charta  eadem  :  in  the  same  work,  i.e.  i.  4.    For  the  meaning  of 
charta,  cf.  i.  5.  104. 

5.  nee  tamen:  yet  after  all.     Cf.  Epist.  i.  7.  23,  nee  tamen  igno- 
rat.        hoc  tribuens  :  though  I  pay  him  this  tribute.        dederim : 
potential  subjunctive.    See  note  on  i.  4.  39.         sic  :  in  that  case,  with 
conditional  force,  serving  as  the  protasis  of  mirer. 

6.  Laberi  mimos:  the  mimes  of  early  times  were  farces,  repre- 
senting scenes  from  the  life  of  the  common  people,  usually  of  a  coarse 
nature;    cf.  Ovid,   Trist.  ii.  497,   Quid  si  scripsissem  mimos  obscena 
iocantes,  Qui  semper  vetiti  crimen  amoris  habet.    They  first  received 


230  BOOK   I.     SERMO  10.  [PAGE  38. 

literary  treatment  at  the  end  of  the  Republic  by  Decimus  Laberius 
and  Publilius  Syrus.  Laberius  (105-43  B.C.)  belonged  to  the  eques- 
trian order.  Caesar,  whom  he  had  offended,  degraded  him  by  making 
him  act  in  one  of  his  own  mimes.  The  prologue  of  protest  which  he 
wrote  for  the  occasion  is  preserved  by  Macrobius,  Saturn,  ii.  7. 
Although  Laberius  and  Syrus  raised  the  tone  of  the  mime,  their  work 
was  not  poetry,  according  to  Horace's  standard ;  see  i.  4.  45  ff. 

7.  rictum :  used  of  the  open  mouth.     It  is  a  classical  word,  used 
by  Cic.  Verr.  ii.  4.  43.  94  (of  a  statue  of  Hercules),  ut  rictum  eius  ac 
mentum  paullo  sit  attritius;   Lucr.   vi.   1195,    inhorrescens  rictum. 
With  the  expression  diducere  rictum,  cf.  Juv.  x.   230,  Ipse  ad  con- 
spectum  cenae  diducere  rictum  Suetus  Mat  tantum. 

8.  est  quaedam  .  .  .  virtus:  parenthetical,  and  yet  there  is  some 
merit  in  this,  too  ;  hie  is  the  adverb  =  in  hoc. 

9.  brevitate:  cf.  Quint,  vi.  3.  45,  acutior  est  ilia  atque  velocior 
in  urbanitate  brevitas.         currat  sententia :  the  thought  may  flow 
freely. 

10.  se  impediat  verbis  :  i.e.  overload  (and  obscure)  itself  with 
useless  verbiage. 

11.  sermone :    language,     discourse.         modo    tristi,     saepe 
iocoso  :  cf.  Dryden,  Art  of  Poetry,  i.  75,  "Happy  who  in  his  verse 
can  gently  steer  From  grave  to  light,  from  pleasant  to  severe  "  ;  better 
known   in   Pope's  imitation,   "From   grave  to  gay,  from   lively  to 
severe." 

12.  defendente  vicem :  playing  the  part.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  194, 
Actons  partes  chorus  officiumque  virile  Defendat ;  and  for  the  mean- 
ing of  vicem,  Liv.  i.  41.  6,  per  speciem  alienae  fungendae  vicis  opes 
suas  firmavit ;   Plin.    Epist.  vi.   6.   6,   cuius  .   .   .  ego  vicem  debeo 
implere.        rhetoris  :  here  used  in  its  Greek  sense  =  oratoris. 

13.  urban!  :  a  wit.     Cf.  Domitius  Marsus  ap.  Quint,  vi.  3.  105, 
urbanus  homo  erit,  cuius  multa  bene  dicta  responsaque  erunt,  et  qui 
in  sermonibus,  circulis,  conviviis,  item  in  contionibus,  omni  denique 
loco   ridicule  commodeque  dicet.         parcentis  .  .  .  consulto  :   i.e. 
treating  the  subject  lightly,  instead  of  seriously  ;  cf.  ridiculum  .  .  . 
secat,  below.     Cf.  Epist.  i.  9.  9 ;  Cic.  de  Orat.  ii.  58.  236,  est  plane 
oratoris  movere  risum  .  .  .  quod  tristitiam  ac  severitatem  mitigat  et 
relaxat  odiosasque  res  saepe,  quas  arguments  dilui  non  facile  est,  ioco 
risuque  dissolvit. 

15.  secat :  decides.     Cf.  Epist.  i.  16.  42,  quo  multae  magnaeque 
secantur  iudice  lites. 


PAGE  39.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  10.  231 

16.  illi,  etc.  :  cf.  i.  4.  1  f.,  Eupolis  atqite  Cratinus  Aristophanesque 
poetae  Atque  alii  quorum  comoedia  prisca  virorum  est.        viris  : 
attracted  into  the  relative  clause. 

17.  stabant :  succeeded,  held  their  ground.    Cf.  Ter.  Hec.  Prol.  ii. 
6.  (14),  In  eis,  quas  primum  Caecili  didici  novas,  Partim  sum  earum 
exactus,  partim  vix  steti ;  Ov.  Fasti,  i.  18,  Inyenium  vultu  statque  cadit- 
que  tuo.        pulcher :  pretty,  with  a  contemptuous  force. 

18.  simius  :  the  usual  form  of  this  word  is  simia,  feminine,  or  as 
a  term  of  abuse,  masculine ;  simius  is  rare  ;  cf.  Vatin.  ap.  Cic.  ad 
Fam.  v.  10.  1,  simius,   non   semissis   homo,  contra  me  arma  tulit. 
Porph.  says  :  Demetrium  modulatorem  propter  maciem  ac  paucitatem 
corporis  hoc  nomine  appellat.     Cf.  line  90  below. 

19.  Calvum  :  of  the  works  of  C.  Licinius  Calvus  (82-47  B.C.)  only 
scanty  fragments  remain.    He  is  mentioned  with  high  praise  by  Cicero 
and  other  ancient  writers,  and  his  name  is  often  linked  with  that  of 
Catullus.     Horace's  attitude  toward  these  great  lyric  poets  is  difficult 
to  understand.    It  must  have  been  modified,  at  least  as  far  as  Catullus 
is  concerned,  in  his  later  years,  although  we  have  no  evidence  of  any 
such  change  of  opinion.         cantare  :  for  the  construction,  cf.  Carm. 
Saec.  75-76,  Doctus  et  Phoebi  chorus  et  Dianae  Dicere  laudes. 

20.  Graeca  :  the  extant  fragments  of  Lucilius  contain  a  great  num- 
ber of  Greek  words.    This  recommendation  of  Lucilius  is  put  into  the 
mouth  of  a  defender,  in  order  to  be  refuted.     With  the  sentiment,  cf. 
Cic.  de  Off.  i.  31.  Ill,  ut  sermone  eo  debemus  uti,  qui  innatus  est  nobis, 
ne,  ut  quidam  Graeca  verba  inculcantes,  iure  optimo  rideamur,  sic  in 
actiones  omnemque  vitam  nullam  discrepantiam  conferre  debemus. 

21.  seri  studiorum  :  pedants.     True  to   the   principle  just  laid 
down,  Horace  thus  translates  the  Greek  64<ijua0ets.     Cf.  Cell.  xi.  7.  3, 
est  adeo  id  vitium  serae  eruditionis  quam  Graeci  6\^ifj.aeiav  appellant, 
ut  quod  nunquam  didiceris,  diu  ignoraveris,  cum  id  scire  aliquando 
coeperis,  manni  facias  quo  in  loco  cumque  et  quacumque  in  re  dicere. 
quine  putetis  :  apparently  a  combination  of  qui  putetis  and  putetisne; 
see  note  on  i.  3.  10.    The  joining  of  -ne  to  the  relative  is  for  the  most 
part  archaic.     Cf.  Catull.  64,  180,  an  patris  auxilium  sperem,  quemne 
ipse  reliqui,  which  is  not  an  exact  parallel  with  the  passage  in  Horace. 
Qui  may  perhaps  be  interrogative.     Cf.  ii.  3.  251  and  the  note. 

22.  Pitholeonti :  an  unknown  poet,  perhaps  identical  with  Pitho- 
laus.       Cf.   Suet.    Caes.   75,    Pitholni   carminibus    maledicentissimis 
laceratam  existimationem  suam  civil  i  animo  tulit  (Caesar). 

23.  at:  a  further  justification  of  Lucilius's  practice;  cf.  line  20. 


232  BOOK  I.     SERMO  10.  [PAGE  39. 

concinnus:  blended.  lingua  .  .  .  utraque:  i.e.  Greek  and 
Latin ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  8.  5,  docte  sermones  utriusque  linguae.  Instru- 
mental ablative,  modifying  concinnus,  which  has  the  force  of  a  par- 
ticiple, like  mixtus. 

24.  nota:  the  vintage-mark  on  the  amphora,  here  used  for  the 
wine  itself ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  3.  8,  interiore  nota  Falerni.     The  Falernian 
was  a  dry  wine,  while  the  Chian  was  sweet. 

25.  cum  versus  facias  :  i.e.  is  this  mixing  of  Greek  and  Latin 
allowable  in  oratory,  as  well  as  in  poetry  ?     There  is  no  conscious 
ellipsis.     The  subjunctive  is  due  to  the  indefinite  second  person  sin- 
gular,       te  ipsum :  emphatic.     Horace  appeals  to  his  opponent's 
own  better  judgment. 

26.  Petilli :  cf.  i.  4.  49  and  the  note. 

27.  patris  Latini :  your  Latin  father,  contrasted  with  Canusini 
bilinguis,  line  30  below,  where  see  the  note. 

28.  Pedius  Publicola:    probably  related  to  Messalla  Corvinus 
(see  below),  although  not  his  brother,   as  the  pseudo-Acron  says, 
exsudet :  are  working  out,  with  hard  labor. 

29.  Corvinus :    M.    Valerius   Messalla   Corvinus   (circ.    65   B.C.- 
4  A.D.),  the  celebrated  orator  and  the  patron  of  Tibullus. 

30.  Canusini  bilinguis  :  in  Apulia  the  inhabitants  spoke  Italic 
(at  first  Oscan  and  later  Latin)   and  Greek.     Cf.  Gell.  xvii.  17.   1, 
Quintus  Ennius  tria  corda  hdbere  sese  dicebat,  quod  loqui  Graece  et 
Osce  et  Latine  sciret. 

31.  mare  citra  :  referring  to  the  Ionian   Sea,  which  separated 
Italy  from  Greece. 

33.  cum  somnia  vera :  cf.  Ovid,  Heroid.  xviii.  195,  Namque  sub 
aurora  iam   dormitante  lucerna,  Somnia  quo   cerni    tempora  vera 
solent-,  Tennyson,  Morte  d"1  Arthur,  341, — 

"  Till  on  to  dawn,  when  dreams 
Begin  to  feel  the  truth  and  stir  of  day." 

34.  in  silvam  .  .  .  ligna  feras :  a  proverbial  expression  for  fruit- 
less labor,  like  the  English   'carry  coals  to  Newcastle.'        ac  si: 
than  if. 

36.  turgidus:  bombastic.  Alpinus:  Porph.  says  that  the 
reference  is  to  M.  Furius  Bibaculus,  but  this  is  not  certain.  Schanz, 
Geschichte  der  romischen  Litteratur,  i.2  p.  117,  says  that  there  were 
three  poets  of  the  name  of  Furius,  and  that  here  and  in  ii.  5.  41  the 
reference  is  to  Furius  Alpinus,  a  contemporary  of  Horace.  ingu- 


PAGE  39.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO   10.  233 

lat:  cuts  the  throat  of;  i.e.  describes  his  death,  doubtless  with  many 
bloody  details. 

37.  defingit  .  .  .  luteum  :  muddles  up,  by  his  poor  description. 
caput :  probably  the  mouth,  rather  than  the  source,  of  the  river.    Ac- 
cording to  some,  the  head  of  the  river  god.       haec  ego  ludo  :  /  amuse 
myself  with  such  writing  as  this ;  ludo  is  used  by  way  of  contrast  with 
the  ambitious  work  just  described ;  cf.  inludo  chartis,  i.  4.  139. 

38.  aede  :  Porph.  says:  in  aede  Musarum,  ubipoetae  sua  carmina 
recitent.     The  place  referred  to  is  uncertain,  but  the  reference  is  evi- 
dently to  readings  of  plays  whose  authors  wished  to  have  them  put  on 
the  stage.         sonent :  subjunctive  in  a  relative  clause  of  purpose  ; 
cf.  quis  .  .  .  insudet,  i.  4.  72.         Tarpa  :  Sp.  Maecius  Tarpa  was  ap- 
pointed by  Pompey,  in  55  B.C.,  to  be  judge  or  censor  of  the  plays 
which  were  offered  for  presentation  in  the  latter's  new  theatre. 

39.  theatris:  apparently  the  so-called  dative  of  the  agent.    See 
Introd.  §  39.  b. 

40.  meretrice  .  .  .  Davo  .  .  .  Chremeta :  stock  characters  of 
Roman  comedy.    Ablative  absolute  in  a  somewhat  loose  relation  to  the 
rest  of  the  sentence ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  1. 31,  Mendaxque  fundus,  arbore  nunc 
aquas  Culpante  nunc  torrentia  agros  Sidera,  nunc  hiemes  iniquas. 

41.  garrire:  rattle  off;  cf.  i.  9.  13,  cum  quidlibet  ille  garriret. 
libellos  is  accusative  of  the  inner  object.        Fundani :  C.  Funda- 
nius,  unknown  except  from  Horace's  references  to  him  ;  cf.  ii.  8.  19. 

42.  Pollio  :  see  Odes,  ii.  1.    On  the  tragedies,  cf.  Virg.  Eel.  viii. 
10,  sola  Sophocleo  tua  carmina  digna  coturno.        regum:  of  the 
heroes  of  tragedy  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.  13,  'Sen  deos  regesque  canit,  deorum 
Sanguinem,  per  quos  cecidere  iusta  Morte  Centauri,  cecidit  tremendae 
Flamma  Chimaerae. 

43.  canit :  of  the  stately  measure  of  tragedy,  contrasted  with  the 
colloquial  style  of  comedy    (garrire}.        pede  ter  percusso:  i.e. 
in  the  iambic  trimeter,  in  which  the  descriptive  and  narrative  parts  of 
tragedies  were  composed. 

44.  Varius:    see  note  on    Serm.   i.    5.    40;    cf.    Odes,   i.    6.    1. 
ducit :  spins,  a  common  term  in  this  connection.     Cf.  Ovid,  Tristia, 
i.  11.  17,  tamen  ipse  trementi  Carmina  ducebat  qualia  cumque  manu. 
molle  atque  facetum  :  tender  find  playful ;  the  reference  is  to  the 
Eclogues  and  the  earlier  work  of  Virgil.      Since  the   Georgics  and 
Aeneid  were  not  yet  published,  Quintilian's  comment  apparently  rests 
on  a  misunderstanding.     Cf.  Quint,  vi.  3.  20,  facetum   quoque  non 
tantum  circa  ridicula  opinor  consistere :  neque  enim  diceret  Horatius 


234  BOOK  I.     SERMO  10.  [PAGE  39. 

facetum  carminis  genus  natura  concessum  esse  Vergilio.  Decoris 
hanc  magis  et  excultae  cuiusdam  elegantiae  appellationem  puto. 
Ideoque  in  epistulis  Cicero  haec  Bruti  refert  verba :  'we  illi  sunt 
pedes  faceti  ac  delicatius  ingredienti  mollesS  Quod  convenit  cum 
illo  Horatiano  :  '  molle  atque  facetum  Vergilio.'1 

45.  adnuerunt :  the  original  quantity,  preserved  for  metrical  con- 
venience ;  see  Introd.  §  58. 

46.  hoc  :  i.  e.  Satire.        Varrone  Atacino  :  see  Introd.  §  27. 

47.  quibusdam  aliis  :  see  Introd.  §  27. 

48.  inventore :  Lucilius,  the  inventor  of  this  form  of  Satire.    See 
Introd.  §  20.        illi :  from  him  ;  dative  of  separation  ^with  detrahere. 
ausim  :  an  old  form  used  as  a  perfect  subjunctive. 

49.  haerentem  :  cf.  Odes,  i.  17.  27,  iniciat  manus  Et  scindat  hae- 
rentem  coronam  Crinibus. 

50.  at  dixi  :  but  I  did  say.     Although  Horace  gives  Lucilius  the 
credit  due  him  as  the  originator  of  this  form  of  satire,  yet  he  believes 
that  in  some  respects  it  is  possible  to  improve  on  him.     Cf.  i.  4.  11  ff. 

51.  tollenda  relinquendis :    i.e.    the  parts  which  ought  to  be 
omitted  were  often  greater  in  amount  than  those  which  deserved  to  be 
perpetuated. 

52.  doctus:    'Sir  Critic"1    (Conington)  ;  i.e.  learned  critic  that 
you  are  ;  ironical.         Homero  :  cf.  Ars  Poet.  395;  Lucil.  305  ff.  L., 
nemo  qui  culpat  Homerum,  Perpetuo  culpat,  neque,  quod  dixi  ante, 
poesin :  Versum  unum  culpat,  verbum,  enthymema,  locumve. 

53.  comis  :  witty,  contrasted  with  tragici.     Note  the  juxtaposition 
of  the  two  words.          mutat :  ,  censures,  for  mutandum  esse  censet. 
Cf.  Gellius,  xvii.  21.  49,  clariorque  tune  in  poematis  eorum  (Ennius, 
Pacuvius,   Accius,   etc.)   obtrectandis  Lucilius  fuit.       Lucilius  and 
Accius  were  at  variance  particularly  in  their  theories  of  orthography. 
Acci  :  L.  Accius  (B.C.  170-94),  the  greatest  of  Roman  tragic  poets. 

54.  Enni :  see  Introd.  §  18.     Servius,  on  Aen.  ix.  503,  tells  us  that 
one  line  was  At  tuba  terribili  sonitu  taratantara  dixit  ;  and,  on  Aen. 
xi.  601,  that  another  was  Sparsis  hastis  longis  campus  splendet  et 
horret,  where  Lucilius  sarcastically  proposed  as  an  emendation,  horret 
et  alget.        gravitate  minores  :   as  inferior  in  dignity,  to  the  re- 
quirements of  epic  poetry. 

55.  non  ut  maiore :  hyperbaton  for  ut  non  maiore.        reprensis : 
masculine,  than  those  ivhom  he  has  criticised.    See  Introd.  §  49.  b. 

56.  quidvetat  .  .  .  nosmet:ie.  Lucilius  criticised  as  his  prede- 
cessors and  contemporaries,  why  should  I  not  criticise  him  ? 


PAGE  40.]  BOOK   I.     SERMO  10.  235 

57.  illius  :  here  only  in  Horace  scanned  with  a  long  penult,  while 
illlus  occurs  eleven  times.         rerum  :  his  subject. 

58.  factos :  finished.     Cf.  Cic.  de  Oral.  iii.  48.  184,  oratio  quae 
quidem  sit  polita  atque  facta  quodam  modo. 

59.  ac  si :  than  if;  cf.  i.  1.  46  ;  i.  6.  130.         pedibus  senis  :  i.e. 
in  hexameter  verse :  cf.  i.  4.  7,  mutatis  tantum  pedibus  numerisque, 
and  the  note. 

60.  scripsisse :  the  perfect  of  instantaneous  action.     See  Introd. 
§  44.  /. 

62.  Cassi :  an  otherwise  unknown  poet,  confused  by  Porphyrio 
with  Cassius  Parmensis,  Epist.  i.  4.  3,  who  was  alive  when  the  Epistle 
in  question  was  written. 

63.  capsis  :  see  note  on  loculos,  i.  G.  74. 

64.  ambustum  :  here  used  for  combustum,  as  in  Tac.  Hist.  v.  12, 
magna  visfrumenti  ambusta.        fuerit :  jussive  subjunctive  with  con- 
cessive force.        inquam :   /  say,  repeating  the  criticism  of  lines  3 
and  53. 

65.  limatior:   more  polished.    The   word  is  derived  from  lima 
('file'),  and  the  metaphor  is  a  common  one. 

66.  quam  .  .  .  auctor  :  auctor  apparently  refers  to  Lucilius  him- 
self, with  the  sense  limatior  quam  exspectari  poterat  ab  auctore  car- 
minis  rudis  et  Graecis  intacti.     The  Satires  of  Ennius,  to  whom  auctor 
is  referred  by  some,  were  of  a  different  kind  (see  Introd.  §  18),  and 
Lucilius  is  expressly  spoken  of  as  the  inventor  of  this  kind  of  compo- 
sition, in  line  48.        rudis  :  new,  untried.     Cf.  Catull.  64.  11,  rudem 
Amphitriten.         Graecis :  dative  of  the  apparent  agent. 

67.  poetarum   seniorum  turba  :    i.e.  Livius,  Plautus,  Naevius, 
etc. 

68.  si  foret  .  .  .  dilatus:  if  his  life  had  been  postponed.    On 
foret,  see  note  on  i.  4.  4. 

69.  detereret :  sc.  lima.        recideret :  prune  away,  like  a  gar- 
dener with  his  pruning  knife.        ultra  perfectum  traheretur :  i.e. 
what  was  superfluous,  the  omission  of  which  would  make  the  work 
perfect. 

71.  scaberet :  apparently  a  vulgar  word.     Cf.  Lucil.  296  L.,  Sca- 
berat,  utporcus  contritis  arbore  costas,  and  800,  caput  scabit.        vivos : 
to  the  quick.     Cf.  Pers.  i.  106,  Nee  pluteum  caedit  nee  demorsos  sapit 
ungues ;  vi.  162,  crudum  .  .  .  unguem  abrodens. 

72.  stilum  vertas  :  the  reverse  end  of  the  stylus  was  flat  or  round, 
for  erasing  what  had  been  written,  by  smoothing  the  wax.  digna 


236  BOOK  I.     SERMO   10.  [PAGE  40. 

legi :  for  the  classic  digna  quae  legantur ;  see  note  on  i.  3.  24  ;  cf.  Cic. 
Brut.  18.  71  (of  plays  of  L.  Andronicus),  non  dignae  sunt  quae  iterum 
legantur.  t 

73.  scripturus :  if  you  intend  to  write.  See  note  on  mansuri,  \. 
5.  87.  neque :  and  do  not,  instead  of  the  regular  neve,  a  common 
usage  in  poetry  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  9.  15. 

74.  contentus:    and  be  content;   part  of  the  injunction  vertas 
.  .  .  labores.        paucis  lectoribus:  i.e.  such  writing  would  appeal 
only  to  the  educated  classes,  not  to  the  general  public. 

75.  vilibus  in  ludis  :  i.e.  to  be  us2d  as  school-books.     That  this 
was  Horace's  fate  is  probable  from  the  great  number  of  manuscripts 
in  which  his  works  are  preserved,  and  is  perhaps  indicated  by  Juv.  vii. 
226,  Quot  stabant  pueri  cum  totus  decolor  esset  Flaccus,  et  haereret 
nigro  fuligo  Maroni ;  though  the  reference  is  sometimes  understood 
to  be  to  busts  of  Horace  and  Virgil.    Horace  elsewhefe  anticipates  this 
fate  for  his  works  ;  see  Epist.  i.  20.  17,  Hoc  quoque  te  manet,  ut  pueros 
elementa  docentem  Occupet  extremis  in  vicis  balba  senectus. 

76.  equitem  :  used  collectively,  the  knights,  who  occupied  the  first 
fourteen  rows  above  the  orchestra  at  the  theatre,  and  are  typical  of  the 
better  class.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  248,  quibus  est  equus  et  pater  et  res. 

77.  Arbuscula  :  a  famous  actress  in  the  mimes,  popular  in  Cicero's 
day.     Cf.  Cic.  ad  Att.  iv.  15.  6,  quaeris  mine  de  Arbuscula;  valde 
placuit. 

78.  Pantilius :  this  name  occurs  in  inscriptions,  C.  L  L.  ix.  5277, 
and  x.  5925,  but  is  doubtless  chosen  on  account  of  its  meaning.    See 
note  on  Novius,  i.  6.  40. 

79.  Demetrius :  apparently  the  simius  of  line  18. 

80.  Fannius:  cf.  i.  4.  21.        Hermogenes:  cf.  i.  4.  72  ;  i.  9.  25. 
conviva :  parasite. 

81.  Plotius :  cf.  i.  5.  40. 

82.  Valgius  :  C.  Valgius  Rufus,  a  friend  of  Horace,  to  whom  Odes, 
ii.   9,  is  addressed.     Cf.  Paneg.  Messallae,   180,    Valgius :  aeterno 
propior   non    alter   Homero.         Octavius :    not    Augustus,   whom 
Horace  addresses  as  Caesar  and  later  as  Augustus,  but  the  poet  and 
historian.    Virg.  (?)  Catalepton  14,  says  of  him:  Scripta  quidem  tua 
nosmultum  mirabimur  et  te  Raptum  et  Romanam  flebimus  historiam. 

83.  Fuscus :  cf.  i.  9.  61  ;  Odes,  i.  22  ;  Epist.  i.  10.         Viscorum  : 
otherwise  unknown.     A  Viscus  is  mentioned  in  i.  9.  22,  and  a  Viscus 
Thurinus  in  Serm.  ii.  8.  20. 

84.  ambitione  relegata  :  without  flattery ,  since  these  are  great 
men,  whom  Horace  might  be  suspected  of  trying  to  propitiate. 


PAKE  43.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO   1.  237 

85.  Messalla  :  see  line  28  above.        fratre  :  L.  Gellius  Publicola, 
consul  in  30  B.C.     He  was  in  the  army  of  Brutus,  where  Horace  may 
have  met  him,  but  afterwards  went  over  to  Octavian. 

86.  Bibule :  perhaps  referring  to  L.  Calpurnius  Bibulus.    He  also 
was  in  the  army  of  Brutus.         Servi  :  perhaps  a  son  of  the  celebrated 
jurist  Servius  Sulpicius.     Ovid,  Trist.  ii.  441,  speaks  of  poems  of  his : 
nee  sunt  minus  improba  Servi  carmina.        his  :,  ablative  governed 
by  simul,   which  is  here  used  for  the  first  time  as  a  preposition. 
Furni  :   C.  Furnius,  consul  in  17  B.C.    Suet.,  p.  289.  28,   Roth,  says  : 
Furnii  pater  etfilius  clari  oratores  habentur,  quorum  filius  consular  is 
ante  patrem  moritur. 

88.  prudens  :  purposely.        haec  :  i.e.  the  first  book  of  Sermones. 

89.  arridere :   to  please.     Cf.  Cic.   ad  Alt.   xiii.    21.  3,  inhibere 
illud  tuum,  quod,  valde  mihi  arriserat.     In  a  different  sense  in  Ars 
Poet.  101,  ridentibus  arrident. 

90.  deterius:  less. 

91.  discipularum :   female   pupils.         cathedras:    arm-chairs, 
used  especially  by  women  ;  cf.  Mart.  iii.  63.  7,  Inter  femineas  tota  qui 
luce  cathedras  Desidet  atque  aliqua  semper  in  aure  sonat. 

92.  puer  :  addressed  to  an  amanuensis. 


BOOK   II. 
SERMO   I. 

1.  sunt  quibus.  etc. :  on  this  criticism,  see  Introd.  §  24.        satura : 
Horace  does  not  use  this  term  in  the  first  book.     It  occurs  again  in 
ii.  6.  17.     Satura  was  the  Horatian  orthography  ;   see  Introd.  §  15. 
videar :  Horace  uses  both  the  indicative  and   the  subjunctive  after 
est  qui  arid  similar  expressions,  usually  with  a  slightly  different  mean- 
ing ;  see  Introd.  §  45.  c.        acer  :  bitter  in  invective. 

2.  legem  :  the  proper  limit;  sc.  operis,  and  cf.  Ars  Poet.  135,  pudor 
vetet  QtUt  operis  lex.    The  word  is  probably  used  in  a  double  sense, 
meaning  also  'what  is  lawful.'        tenderer  the  figure  is  drawn  from 
the  stretching  of  a  bow.        sine  nervis :  without  strength,  a  figure 
from  the  sinews  of  the  body. 

4.  mille  :  of  an  indefinite  large  number.  See  Introd.  §  50.  de- 
duci  :  the  regular  word ;  cf.  ducit,  i.  10.  44,  and  Epist.  ii.  1.  225, 
tenui  deducta  poemata  filo.  Trebati :  referring  to  C.  Trebatius 


238  BOOK  II.     SERMO   1.  [PAGE  43. 

Testa,  a  famous  iuris  consultus,  a  friend  of  Cicero.  Into  his  hands 
Horace  puts  his  case.  The  brevity  of  the  answers  of  Trebatius  are 
characteristic  of  the  experienced  lawyer. 

5.  quiescas  :  that  you  be  quiet ;  jussive  subjunctive  governed  by 
an  implied  praescribo.     There  is  no  conscious  ellipsis.        ne  faciam  : 
like  quiescas,  depends  on  an  implied  praescribis. 

6.  aio :  yes.        peream  male  :  hang  me ;  cf.  inteream,  i.  9.  38, 
and  the  note. 

7.  optimum  erat:  ivould  be  best;  the  indicative,  on  account  of 
the  implied  idea  of  obligation  ;  cf.  Ovid,  Her.  i.  112,  in  patrias  artes 
erudiendus  erat.        nequeo  dormire  •.  Horace  implies  that  his  writing 
is  due  to  sleeplessness.     Cf.  Plin.  Epist.  vii.  4.  4,  dein  cum  meridie 
dormiturus  me  recepissem  nee  obreperet  somnus  .  .  .  id  ipsum  quod  me 
ad  scribendum  sollicitaverat  his  versibus  exaravi.     Also  Epist.  ii.  2. 
54,  melius  dormire  quam  scribere  versus.        ter  :  the  number  three 
was  supposed  to  have  a  mystic  power  in  prescriptions,  magic  rites, 
etc. ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  1.  37.        uncti :  a  regular  preliminary  to  athletic 
exercises ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  8.  8. 

8.  transnanto  Tiberim :    Trebatius  was  fond  of  swimming ;   cf. 
Cic.  ad  Fam.  vii.  10.  2  (addressed  to  Trebatius),  qui  neque  in  Oceano 
natare  volueris,  studiosissimus  homo  natandi. 

9.  irriguum  mero  :  soaked  with  (unmixed)  wine  ;  cf.  Cic.  ad  Fam. 
vii.  22  (addressed  to  Trebatius),  inluseras  heri  inter  scyphos,  quod 
dixeram  .  .  .  itaque  etsi  domum  bene  potus  seroque  redieram,  tamen 
id  caput  notavi.     Also  Prop.  iii.  17.  13,  Quod  si,  Bacche,  tuis  per 
fervida  tempora  donis  Accersitus  erit  somnus  in  ossa  mea.     Mero 
(sc.  vino~)  is  an  adjective  used  as  a  substantive.     See  note  on  venalis, 
i.  1.  47. 

10.  rapit :  carries  you  away  ;  stronger  than  capit,  which  Bentley 
reads.        aude  :  have  the  courage  to  undertake  a  loftier  theme. 

11.  Caesaris  :  he  received  the  title  of  Augustus  a  few  years  later, 
on  January  17,  27  B.C.     See  note  on  Octavius,  i.  10.  82.        res  =  res 


12.  praemia :  cf.  Lucil.  612,  L.,  Hunc  laborem  sumas,  laudem 
qui  tibi  ac  fructum  ferat ;  Epist.  ii.  2.  38,  grandia  laturus  meritorum 
praemia.  laturus  :  and  you  will  receive.  See  note  on  mansuri,  i. 
5.  87,  and  Introd.  §  47.  cupidum  :  much  as  I  should  like  to ;  the 
adjective  has  a  concessive  force.  pater  :  a  title  of  respect,  used  by 
Horace  in  addressing  both  men  and  gods  ;  cf.  line  42  below,  and  Epist. 
i.  6.  54.  Trebatius  was  more  than  twenty  years  older  than  Horace. 


PAGE  43.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  1.  239 

13.  quivis :   every  one,  any  one  you  like.     While  disclaiming  the 
ability  to  write  epic  poetry,  Horace  gives  a  hint,  in  the  next  two  lines, 
of  what  he  could  do  in  that  field.        borrentia  pilis  agmina:  with 
reference  to  the  Roman  legions,  which  are   characterized  by  their 
principal  weapon,  the  pilum. 

14.  fracta  .  .   .  cuspide  :  with  their  lances  broken,  —  a  sign  of 
defeat  and  flight.         Gallos :  Octavian  carried  on  several  campaigns 
against  the  Gallic  tribes. 

15.  equo  .  .  .  Parthi :  the  Parthians  were  the  most  formidable 
enemies  of  the  Romans  at  this  time.    Their  strength  lay  principally  in 
their  cavalry.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  19.  11  ;  ii.  13.  17. 

16.  iustum  :  as  just  (sc.  eum)  ;   of  the  civic  virtues  of  Caesar. 
poteras :   cf.   erat,  line  7,  and  the  note.        fortem:    as  brave  (cf. 
iustum")  ;  of  his  courage  in  war  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  6.  11  ff . 

17.  Scipiadam  :  Scipio  African  us  Minor.    The  patronymic  is  used, 
as  also  by  Lucilius,  Lucretius,  and  Virgil,  because  Sclpionem  will  not 
fit  into  hexameter  verse.        sapiens  :  sensible,  in  choosing  a  suitable 
theme  ;  cf.  Epist.  ii.  1.  50,  Ennius  sapiens.        baud  mihi  dero :  cf. 
i.  9.  56,  and  the  note. 

18.  cum  res  ipsa  feret :   when  opportunity  offers.        dextro 
tempore  :   the  opposite  of  laevo  tempore,  ii.  4.  4.        Flacci :   of  a 
Flaccus,  as  an  obscure  bard;  more  modest  than  mea.     For  the  rest 
of  Horace's  name,  see  Serni.  ii.  6.  37  ;  and  Epist.  i.  14.  5. 

19.  attentam :  emphatic. 

20.  male  si  palpere  :  the  person  and  the  figure  are  combined,  — 
who,  like  a  horse,  if  you  stroke  him  the  wrong  way.     Cf.  Epist.  i.  4.  16 
(of  Horace),  Cum  rider e  voles  Epicuri  de  grege porcum ;  and  see  note 
on  Tantalus,  i.  1.  68.        tutus:  i.e.  to  protect  himself. 

21.  tristi :  abusive,  the  epithet  transferred  from  the  effect  to  the 
cause  ;  cf.  Lucil.  963,  L.,  tuis  saevisfactis  et  tristibus  dictis. 

22.  Pantolabum  :  cf.  i.  8.  11.     A  name  made  up  from  irdv\a^eiv, 
'Catch-all,'  quia  a  multis  pecuniam  mutuam  erogabat,  Porph.  ad  loc. 
See  note  on  Novius,  i.  6.  40.        Nomentanum  :  cf.  i.  1 .  102. 

23.  cum:  whereupon. 

24.  quid  faciam  :  ivhat  can  I  do?    Horace  implies  that  it  is  his 
nature  to  write  satire  :  cf.  Pers.  i.  12,  Quid  faciam?  sed  sum  petulanti 
splene  cachinno.        saltat :  see  note  on  i.  9.  24.        Milonius  :  other- 
wise unknown.        ut  semel :  Horace  elsewhere  has  cum  semel ;  ut 
xpmel  belongs  to  the  language  of  comedy.        icto  :  i.e.  vino. 

25.  numerusque  lucernis  (accessit) :   i.e.  he  sees  double ;  ap- 


240  BOOK   II.     SERMO   1.  [PAGE  43. 

parently  a  proverbial  expression.  Cf.  Juv.  vi.  304,  cum  iam  vertiyine 
tectum  Ambulat  et  geminis  cxsurgit  mensa  lucernis  •  Petr.  64,  et  sane 
iam  lucernae  mihi  plures  videbantur  ardere. 

26.  Castor:    Castor  and   Pollux,   although  twins,  had  different 
tastes.        ovo  .  .  .  eodem  :   they  were  the  sons  of  Leda  and  the 
swan  (Jupiter). 

27.  quot  capitum  .  .  .  totidem  studiorum  milia  :  a  common 
proverbial  saying  ;  cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  454,  quot  homines,  tot  sententiae, 
etc.     On  the  use  of  mille  (milia)  for  an  indefinite  large  number,  see 
Introd.  §  50. 

28.  pedibus  claudere  verba  :  to  write  verse ;  cf.  i.  4.  40 ;  i.  10.  59. 

29.  melioris  :  a  better  man,  i.e.  a  greater  poet  and  of  higher  social 
position.     After  thus  silencing  Trebatius  by  freely  admitting  his  inferi- 
ority, Horace  gives  a  brief  critique  of  Lucilius's  poetry. 

30.  fidls  .  .  .  sodalibus :   Porphyrio  says  :^  Aristoxenis  sententia 
est.    llle  enim  in  suis  scriptis  ostendit  Sapphonem  et  Alcaeum  volumina 
sua  loco  sodalium  habuisse.     Southey  uses  the  same  expression  of  his 
books:  "My  never  failing  friends  are  they,  With  whom  I  converse 
night  and  day."     The  word  sodalis  implies  a  high  degree  of  intimacy, 
'comrade,'  'boon  companion.'     Cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  13.  45.        arcana: 
i.e.  his  inmost  thoughts,  his  secrets ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  18.  16,  arcani  fides 
prodiga.        olim  :  i.e.  in  his  day  ;  see  note  on  i.  1.  25. 

31.  si  male  cesserat  ...  si  bene  :  i.e.  if  matters  had  gone  ill  or 
well.    The  expression  is  used  impersonally  (sc.  illi}  ;  cf.  Ovid,  Met. 
x.  80,  sen  quod  male  cesserat  illi. 

33.  votiva  .  .  .  tabella  :  sailors  who  had  been  saved  from  ship- 
wreck often  hung  pictures  commemorating  the  event  in  the  appropriate 
temple.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  5. 13,  me  tabula  sacer  Votiva  paries  indicat  uvida 
Suspendisse  potenti  Vestimenta  maris  deo.      Rescue  from  other  disas- 
ters, relief  from  illness,  and  the  like,  were  similarly  commemorated. 

34.  senis  :  probably  used  without  reference  to  his  age,  but  with  re- 
gard to  his  times ;  so  Stat.  SUv.  iv.  9.  20,  Bruti  senis,  though  Brutus 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven.        Lucanus  an  Apulus  :  both  warlike 
races  ;  hence  Horace's  pugnacious  spirit  and  bent  for  satire.        an- 
ceps :  probably  masculine  ;  cf.  Liv.  xxxi.  12,  incertus  infans  mascu- 
lus  an  femina  esset.    But  it  may  be  neuter,  as  Porph.  regarded  it ;  cf. 
Liv.  xxxi.  41,  clauserant  portas,  incertum  vi  an  voluntate,  though 
anceps  (est)  as  an  impersonal  expression  does  not  seem  to  occur. 

35.  Venusinus  .  .  .  colonus :  Venusia  was  formerly  a  city  of 
the  Hirpini.    It  was  captured  in  294  B.C.,  and  in  291  a  colony  of 


PAGE  44.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  1.  241 

twenty  thousand  citizens  was  established  there,  to  protect  the  road 
from  Tarentum  into  Samnium.          sub  :  close  up  to. 

37.  quo  ne:    apparently  the  construction   is   influenced    by   the 
implied  comparative,  quo  Romanus  tutior  esset.        Romano  :    the 
Roman,  like  Lucanus  and  Apuhis  in  line  34. 

38.  quod  :  any,  modifying  belliim. 

39.  sed  :  adversative  to  sequor  hunc ;  i.e.  Horace  follows  Lucilius 
in  writing  satire,  but,  unlike  his  model,  he  will  use  his  pen  for  defen- 
sive purposes  only  ;  hence  ultro,  unprovoked,  '  without  just  cause.' 

40.  quemquam  animantem  :  any  living  soul. 

41.  quern  :  referring  to  ensis ;  for  a  similar  comparison,  cf.  Juv. 
i.  165,  Ense  velut  stricto  quotiens  Lucilius  ardens  Infremuit,   rubet 
auditor. 

42.  tutus  :  as  long  as  I  am  safe. 

43.  ut :  with  the  force  of  utinam.      With  the  whole  passage,  cf. 
Catull.  66.  48,  luppiter  ut  Chalybum  omne  genus  pereat  (following 
Callimachus,  frag.  35  c).      The  Chalybians  were  famous  workers  in 
steel.        positum  :  in  a  double  sense,  '  laid  down '  and  '  laid  aside.' 

44.  nee  :  for  neve  ;  cf.  neque,  i.  10.  73,  and  the  note. 

45.  commorit  =  commoverit.         melius  non  tangere  :   cf.  our 
expression,  '  let  sleeping  dogs  lie,'  and  the  motto  of  Scotland,  nemo  me 
impune  lacessit. 

46.  insignis  .  .  .  urbe  :  i.e.  he  will  be  the  talk  of  the  town. 

47.  Cervius  :  an  informer,  not  otherwise  known  ;  not  the  same,  of 
course,  as  the  garrulous  rustic  in  ii.  6.  77.         iratus  :  when  he  is  an- 
gered,       urnam  =  indicium  ;  either  the  urn  from  which  the  names  of 
the  jurors  who  were  to  serve  in  the  trial  were  drawn,  or  that  into 
which  their  votes  for  condemnation  or  acquittal  were  cast. 

48.  Albuci  :  modifies  venenum ;  probably  an  objective  genitive, 
the  poison  which  killed  Albucius.      quibus  est  inimica  :  her  enemies, 
forming  a  parallel  to  iratus  in  the  preceding  line.         venenum  :  sc. 
minitatur. 

49.  Turius  :  evidently  a  corrupt  judge,  who  threatens  to  condemn 
his  enemy  (an  expression  like  iratus  or  quibus  est  inimicus  is  implied), 
if  ever  he  be  brought  to  trial  before  him.     Porph.  says  that  it  was 
before  this  man  as  praetor  that  Verres  was  tried. 

50.  ut :  how.        quo  quisque  valet :  i.e.  with  his  most  powerful 
weapon.          suspectos :    the  objects  of  his  distrust;  the  participle 
used  as  a  substantive. 

51.  natura  potens  :  a  powerful  natural  instinct. 


242  BOOK  II.     SERMO  1.  [PAGE  44. 

52.  intus :  from  within,  apparently  a  colloquial  use  of  the  word. 

53.  Scaevae:  otherwise  unknown.        vivacem  :  too  long-lived ; 
cf.  Juv.  xiv.  251,  lam  torquet  iuvenem  longa  et  cervina  senectus. 

54.  sceleris :    violence,  i.e.  he  will  not  strangle,  but  will  poison 
her.        pia :  filial ;  ironical. 

55.  ut:  as  is  the  fact  that.        calce  :  we  should  expect  cornu  (cf. 
line  52)  ;  the  change  seems  to  be  made  because  the  wolf  has  feet,  but 
not  horns,  although  he  does  not  use  them  as  offensive  weapons. 

56.  mala  .  .   .  cicuta  :  contrasted  with  pia  dextera.        vitiato  : 
drugged.        melle :  here  probably  for  mulsum,  a  mixture  of  wine  and 
honey. 

57.  ne  longum  faciam :  in  short,  not  to  make  a  long  story  of  it. 

58.  atris :  the  color  of  death.          circumvolat  :  note  the  pres- 
ent, —  is  even  now  hovering  over  me. 

60.  vitae  .   .   .   color:    i.e.  whether  bright  (candidus)  or  dark 
{ater,  niger).        scribam :    note  the  position  of  the  word,    which 
would  normally  follow  color;  cf.  ii.  3.  211,  Aiax,  cum  immeritos  occi- 
dit,  desipit,  agnos.        ut  sis  vitalis  :  that  you  won't  be  long  lived,  i.e. 
if  you  follow  such  a  course  of  actions ;  cf.  Iliad,  xviii.  95,  wK^opos  dj 
fMi,  T^KOS,  eo-(T6cu,  oT  dyopefais. 

61.  maiorum :  of  the  great ;  equivalent  to  potentiorum  ;  cf.  Epist. 
i.  17.  2,  quo  pacto  deceat  maioribus  uti. 

62.  frigore  :  with  a  chill,  of  the  coldness  of  his  patrons  ;  cf.  Sen. 
Epist.  122.  11,  Montanus  lulius   .    .    .    tolerabilis  poeta  et  amicitia 
Tiberii  notus  et  frigore. 

64.  detrahere  et  pellem  :    an  allusion  to  the  fable  of  the  Ape 
(Lucian,  Philopseud.  5)  or  the  Ass  in  the  Lion's  skin  (Lucian,  Fugit. 
13).     Cf.  i.  6.  22,  quoniam  in  propria  non  pelle  quiessem'  and  Epist. 
i.  16.  45,  Introrsum  turpem,  speciosum  pelle  decora.        per  ora  :  sc. 
hominum  or  virum ;  cf.  Sail.  Jug.  31.  10,  incedunt  per  ora  vestra  mag- 
nifici,  and  the  epitaph  of  Ennius,  volito  vivos  per  ora  virum. 

65.  cederet :  for  incederet,  a  colloquial  use  of  the  word ;  cf.  Sail. 
Jug.  31.  10,  quoted  in  the  preceding  note.         Laelius  :   C.  Laelius 
Sapiens,  consul  in  140  B.C.     He  was  a  patron  of  Terence,  and  the  prin- 
cipal speaker  in  the  Laelius,  or  De  Amicitia,  of  Cicero.          qui  .  .  . 
duxit :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  8.  18.  qui  domita  nomen  ab  Africa  Lucratus  rediit. 

67.  ingenio :  wit.  offensi :  sc.  sunt,  as  with  soliti  in  line  74. 
Metello:  the  reference  is  to  Q.  Caecilius  Metellus  Macedonicus,  con- 
sul in  143  B.C.,  a  political  enemy  of  Scipio  ;  cf.  Cic.  de  Off.  i.  25.  87, 
fuit  inter  P.  Africanum  et  Q.  Metellum  sine  acerbitate  dissensio. 


PAGE  45.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO   1.  243 

68.  Lupo :  L.  Cornelius  Lentulus  Lupus,  consul  in  156  B.C.,  censor 
in  147  B.C.      He  was  attacked  by  Lucilius  ;   cf.  Pers.  i.   114,  secuit 
Lucilius  urbem,    Te,    Lupe,  te,  Mud,  et  genuinum  fregit   in  illis. 
atqui :   and  yet.      Lucilius  attacked  prominent  men,  as  well  as  the 
common  herd,  without  offending  his  patrons. 

69.  arripuit :  dragged  to  judgment;  cf.  i.  9.  77  ;  ii.  3.  224.      tribu- 
tim :  tribe  by  tribe,  apparently  going  through  the  whole  list,  as  the 
scholiast  on  Pers.  i.  115  says:   urbem  autem  ideo  dixit  secuit,  quia 
tribus  omnes  triginta  quinque  laceravit,  ex  quibus  urbs  tota  constat. 
Mention  of  individual  tribes  occurs  in  Lucil.  in  fragments  1094  and 
1095   L.,   prima,  Papiria    tu    stolidarum  .  .  .  Priverno    Oufentina 
venit  fluvioque  Oufente. 

70.  uni  aequus  virtuti  :    '  to  virtue  only  and  her  friends  a  friend ' 
(Pope). 

71.  quin  =  quin  etiam,  nay  more.        scaena  :  the  stage  of  public 
life,  where  they  had  to  wear  a  mask  of  dignity. 

72.  virtus  Scipiadae  :  the  valiant  Scipio,  a  common  circumlocu- 
tion ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  21.  11,  prisci  Catonis  virtus.     On  Scipiadae,  see 
note   on  line   17.         niitis   sapientia  Laeli :    the   wise   and  gentle 
Laelius  ;  see  preceding  note. 

73.  nugari    .    .    .    et  ludere :   the    Comm.  Cruq.    says :    Scipio 
Africanus  et  Laelius  feruntur  tarn  fuisse  familiares  et  amid  Lucilio, 
ut  quodam  tempore  Laelio  circum  lectos  triclinii  fugienti  Lucilius 
superveniens,  eum  obtorta  mappa  quasi  feriturus  sequeretur.     Cf.  also 
Cic.  de  Oral.  ii.  6.  22.        discincti  :  i.e.  tunicis  solutis.    The  toga  was 
worn  only  in  the  city. 

74.  decoqueretur  :  subjunctive  of  anticipation. 

75.  censum  :  rank,  as  determined  by  the  census.     Lucilius  was 
an  eques,  and  according  to  Porph.  was  the  grand-uncle  of  Pompey  the 
Great. 

76.  cum  magnis  :  i.e.  cum  Maecenate.        invita  :  even  though 
unwilling.        usque  :  i.e.  will  always  be  obliged  to  admit. 

77.  fragili  .'.  .  solido  :  neuters;  the  reference  seems  to  be  to  the 
fable  of  the  Viper  and  the  File ;  cf.  Pers.  i.  114,  quoted  above  on  line  68. 

78.  nisi  quid  tu :   after  his  long  monologue,  Horace  appeals  to 
Trebatius  for  his  view,  and  resumes  the  dialogue  form. 

79.  nihil  nine  diffindere :  to  take  no  exception  to  this  ;  lit.  to  cut 
off  nothing  from  it,  as  we  speak  of  weakening  an  argument. 

80.  ut  .  .  .  caveas  :  that  you  may  take  warning  and  be  on  your 
guard;  depending  on  some  expression  of  reminding  or  admonishing 


244  BOOK  II.     SERMO  2.  [PAGE  45. 

implied  in  ius  est.        negoti  :   trouble,   difficulty;  genitive   of    the 
whole,  with  quid. 

81.  sanctarum:  sacred,  as  they  would  be  in  the  eyes  of  a  •  jurist 
like  Trebatius  ;  cf.  ii.  2.  131,  vafri  inscitia  iuris. 

82.  mala  condiderit   .    .    .    carmina :    with    reference    to    the 
Twelve  Tables  as  quoted  by  Cicero,  de  Rep.  iv.  10. 12,  nostrae  duodecim 
tabulae,  cum  perpaucas  res  capite  sanxissent,  in  his  hanc  quoque 
sanciendam  putaverunt,  si  quis  occentavisset  sive  carmen  condidisset, 
quod  infamiam  faceret  flagitiumve  alteri.    The  later  law  of  Sulla  was 
milder ;  see  Ulpian,  Digest,  xlvii.  10.  5,  si  quis  librum  ad  infamiam 
alicuius   pertinentem   scripserit,  composuerit,   ediderit,    dolove  malo 
fecerit  .  .  .  uti  de  ea  re  agere  liceret.     On  condiderit,  see  i.  5.  90, 
and  Introd.  §  57. 

83.  esto :  very  well  I        mala  :    Horace  humorously  takes  mala, 
which  in  the  law  means  'abusive,'  in  the  sense  of  poor,  inferior. 

84.  iudice    Caesare :     even    in    Caesar's    judgment  ;    ablative 
absolute. 

85.  latraverit :  for  allatraverit,  and  so  followed  by  the  accusative. 
Cf.  Epod.  5.  58  ;  Epist.  i.  2.  66.       integer  ipse  :  while  he  himself  is 
blameless;  cf.  Odes,  i.  22.  1,  integer  vitae. 

86.  solventur  .  .  .  tabulae :    the   indictment  will   be   quashed 
amid  general  laughter ;  solventur  =  dissolventur.     Porph.  says,  'tabu- 
lae: pro  subsellia,'  in  which  case  the  expression  would  be  parallel  to 
Juv.  vii.  86,  cum  fregit  subsellia  versu,  and  the  meaning,  that  the 
judges  are  so  carried  away  by  the  laughter  which  follows  the  poet's 
witty  interpretation  of  the  law,  that  they  dismiss  the  case. 

SERMO   II. 

1.  quae  .  .  .  et  quanta :  what  and  how  great.        boni :  good 
friends.     Line  16  suggests  that  the  party  may  have  assembled  at  some 
villa  on  the  sea-coast.        parvo  :  on  a  little,  i.e.  frugally  ;  ablative  of 
instrument. 

2.  nee  meus  :  cf.  Plato,  Symposium,  177  a,  TJ  iitv  fwt  dp%r?  TOV 
\6yov  t<rrl  Kara  rrjv  Etpnridov   M.e\avtinnjv  •   ov  yap   c/t6s  6  /iC0os,    dXXa 
3>ai8pjov  rovde  ov  /xAXw  \tyeiv. 

3.  abnormis  sapiens:    a  self-taught  philosopher ;  cf.   Cic.   de 
Amic.  5. 18,  numquam  ego  dicam  C.  Fabricium,  M\  Curium,  quos  sapi- 
entes  maiores  nostri  iudicabant,  ad  istorum  normam  fuisse  sapient  is. 
crassa  Minerva :    plain  mother-wit ;  ablative  of  quality ;    cf.  Ars 


PAGE  47.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  2.  245 

Poet.  385,  Tu  nihil  invita  dices  faciesve  Minerva  ;  Cic.  de  Amic.  5.  19, 
pingui  Minerva  ;  Quint,  i.  10.  28,  crassiore  ut  vacant  Musa. 

4.  nitentis :  glittering,  with  silver. 

5.  stupet:  is  dazzled;  cf.  i.  6.  17.          insanis  :  senseless,  extrav- 
agant; cf.  Cic.  Mil.  20.  53,  insanas  substructiones. 

6.  falsis :  cf.  line  30. 

7.  impransi :  fasting,  on  an  empty  stomach. 

9.  corruptus  :  who  has  been  bribed.  The  person  who  is  sitting  at 
a  bountiful  table  is  a  prejudiced  judge  of  the  advantages  of  frugal 
living. 

10.  lassus  ab :  ab  has  a  temporal  force,  —  tired  after  riding  an 
unbroken  horse.         Romana  .  .  .  militia:    Roman  field  sports;  cf. 
Epist.  i.  2.  67,  militat  in  silvis  catulus ;  and,  on  the  contrast  between 
the  Greek  and  the  Roman  sports,  Odes,  iii.  24.  53  ff. 

11.  graecari  :  to  play  the  Greek,  i.e.  to  imitate  the  Greeks.      pila : 
see  note  on  lusumque  trigonem,  i.  6.  126.     Ball  playing  was  a  favorite 
form  of  exercise  among  the  Romans,  and  several  different  kinds  of 
games  were  played. 

12.  studio  fallente :  i.e.  through  the  interest  in  the  game,  which 
takes  one's  mind  off  the  hard  labor  which  is  involved.     The  phrase 
modifies  agit.    After  laborem  we  must  understand  pila  lude,  to  make 
the  sentence  strictly  grammatical,  but  it  need  not  be  expressed  in  the 
translation. 

13.  agit :  attracts. 

14.  cum  labor,  etc. :  a  kind  of  anacoluthon.     The  various  forms 
of  exercise  enumerated  above  are  summed  up,  and  the  thought  ex- 
pressed by  the  participles  sectatus  and  lassus  is  repeated  in  another 
form  after  the  parenthetical  vel  si  Romana  .  .  .  aera  disco.        extu- 
derit :  has  knocked  out,  a  colloquial  expression.         siccus,  inanis  : 
hungnj  and  thirsty,  corresponding  in  chiastic  order  to  sperne  cibum 
and  ne  biberis  below. 

15.  sperne:  i.e.  disdain,  if  you  can.        Hymettia  .  .  .  Falerno  : 
Macrobius,  Saturnalia,  vii.  12,  says  that  the  best  mulsum  was  made 
of  new  Hymettian  honey  and  old  Falernian  wine. 

16.  ne  biberis :  a  form  of  prohibition  almost  entirely  confined  to 
poetry  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  11.  1,  tu  ne  quaesieris.        foris  est  promus  :  the 
steward  is  out,  so  that  nothing  can  be  got  from  the  pantry.     Promus 
is  the  noun  of  agency,  cognate  with  promere.       atrum  .  .  .  hiemat : 
is  dark  and  stormy.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  v.  11,  inhorruit  unda  tenebris. 

17.  cum  sale  panis :   a  proverbial  expression  •   cf.  Plin,  N.  H. 


246  BOOK  II.     SERMO  2.  [PAGE  47. 

xxxi.  89,  Varro  etiam  pulmentarii  vice  usos  veteres  (sale)  auctor  est, 
et  salem  cum  pane  esitasse  eos  proverbio  apparet. 

18.  latrantem  :  clamoring.  leniet :  stay ;  cf.  ii.  8.  5,  Quae 
prima  iratum  ventrem  placaverit  esca.  unde  aut  qui  partum  :  sc. 
hoc,  i.e.  that  you  are  satisfied  with  bread  and  salt. 

20.  in  te  ipso  :  the  answer  to  unde  in  line  18.        pulmentaria  : 
cf.  Varro,  L.  L.  v.  108,  quod  edebant  cum  pulte  ab  eo  pulmentum,  ut 
Plautus :    hinc  pulmentarium  dictum.     Hence  pulmentarium  means, 
like  the  Greek  fr/'ov,  anything  eaten  with  bread,  a  relish.     For  a  special 
sense  of  the  word,  see  line  34  below. 

21.  pinguem :  i.e.  bloated.         album:  pale;   cf.   Odes,  ii.  2.  15, 
albo  corpore,  of  the  effects  of  dropsy.        ostrea :  considered  a  great 
delicacy.     The  finest  came  from  the  Lucrine  Lake  ;  cf.  Epod.  2.  49. 

22.  scarus  :  a  fish  highly  prized  by  the  Romans  ;  cf.  Epod.  2.  50. 
lagois :    perhaps  the  Alpine  grouse.      See  Plin.  N.  H.  x.  133,  sicut 
Alpium  pyrrhocorax  luteo  rostro  niger,  et  praecipua  sapore  lagopus. 

23.  eripiam :    a  strong  prohibebo    (cf.  extuderit  in  line  14)  and 
hence  followed  by  quin.        quin  :  note  the  position  of  the  word.     See 
Introd.  §  53.  g.        posito  pavone  :  when  a  peacock  is  set  before  you, 
—  a  great  luxury.     Posito  =  anteposito  ;  cf.  line  106  below. 

24.  tergere:  as  we  say,  to  'tickle.' 

25.  corruptus:    i.e.    prejudiced;  cf.  line  9.          vanis  rerum  = 
vanis  rebus;  cf.  ii.  8.  83,  fictis  rerum;  Epist.  i.  17.  21,  villa  rerum 
and  Prop.  iii.  9.  7,  omnia  rerum.     Rerum  is  genitive  of  the  whole. 
veneat  .  .  .  pandat:  the  subjunctive  implies  the  excuse  of  the  glutton 
for  his  preference,  because,  as  you  say. 

26.  pandat  spectacula  =  pandenda  cauda  exhibeat  spectaculum  ; 
cf.  Odes,  i.  o3.  16,  Hadriae  curvantis  Calabros  sinus ;  Plin.  N.  H.  x. 
43,   (pavo)   gemmantis  expandit  colores.     Spectacula  is  a    kind  of 
accusative  of  the  inner  object ;  see  Introd.  §  38.  b. 

27.  tamquam  .  .  .  quicquam :  as  if  that  had  anything  to  do 
with  the  matter.        ista  :  with  a  contemptuous  force,  that  plumage 
which  you  think  so  handsome. 

28.  cocto  :  sc.  pavoni.        num  adest :  the  syllable  ending  in  -m 
is  scanned  short,  instead  of  being  elided,  as  happens  sometimes  in 
Lucilius,   Terence,  and  other  early  poets.     Horace  may  have  taken 
the  expression  directly  from  Lucilius,  as  Palmer  suggests.     Cf.  si  me 
amas,  i.  9.  38.        honor:  adornment,  beauty,  as  in  Epod.  11.  6,  hie 
tertius  December  .  .  .  silvis  honorem  decutit. 

29.  carne:    note  the  emphatic  position  of  this  word  and  of  nil. 


PAGE  48.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  2.  247 

quamvis  distat :  for  the  indicative  with  quamvis,  see  Introd.  §  45.  b. 
nil:  not  a  whit,  adverbial  accusative.  magis  .  .  .  te  petere: 
think  of  your  preferring"  infinitive  in  an  exclamation;  see  Introd. 
§  46.  6. 

30.  esto  :  very  well,  i.e.  let  that  pass  without  further  comment. 

31.  unde  datum  sentis  :   whence  is  it  given  you  to  tell  (by  the 
taste)  ?     Cf.  i.  4.  79,  unde  petitum  hoc  in  me  iacis ;  and  Pers.  v.  124, 
unde  datum  hoc  sumis  ?        lupus  .  .  .  Tiberinus :  the  lupi  (a  kind 
of  bass  or  pike)  caught  in  the  Tiber  were  preferred  to  those  caught  in 
the  sea ;  and  of  the  former  those  were  regarded  as  especially  choice 
which  were  caught  near  the  island  in  the  Tiber.     Cf.  Columella,  R.  E. 
viii.  16. 4,  docta  et  erudita  palata  fastidire  docuit  (Marcius  Philippus) 
fluvialem   lupum,  nisi  quern   Tiberis  adverse   torrente  def atig  asset ; 
Lucil.  1181  L.,  Ilium  siimina  ducebant  atque  altilium  lanx,  hunc  pon- 
tes  Tiberinus  duo  inter  captus  catillo.        alto  :  the  deep  ;  the  adjec- 
tive used  as  a  substantive  ;  sc.  mari. 

32.  Met :  gapes ;  of  the  dead  fish  with  its  open  mouth.        iacta- 
tus :  tossed  by  the  swirling  current ;    cf.  the  passage  from  Columella, 
quoted  in  the  note  on  line  31.       amnis  .  .  .  Tusci  :  the  Tiber,  which 
rises  in  Etruria ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  7.  28,  nee  quisquam  citus  aeque  Tusco 
denatat  alveo. 

33.  sub  :  note  the  asyndeton.          trilibrem  mullum  :  the  mullet 
was  a  small  fish  ;  hence  the  epicure  prized  especially  those  of  unusual 
size.     Cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  ix.  63,  (mullus)  magnitude  modica,  binasque 
libras  ponderis  raro  admodum  exsuperat.     Seneca,  Epist.  95. 42,  speaks 
of  one  which  was  said  to  have  weighed  four  and  a  half  pounds ;  and 
Juvenal,  iv.  15,  tells  how  one  of  six  pounds  sold  for  6000  sesterces 
($300). 

34.  singula  .  .  .  pulmenta :  portions;  see  note  on  pulmentaria, 
line  20  above,  and  the  citation  from  Varro.    The  meaning  of  pulmenta 
(  =  pulmentaria)  here  does  not  differ  in  reality  from  its  usual  one, 
since  the  portions  of  the  choice  fish  serve  as  a  relish  for  the  rest  of  the 
banquet. 

35.  ducit :  attracts;  cf.  ii.  7.  102,  ducor  libo  fumante.        video  : 
parenthetical,  instead  of  video  speciem  te  ducere.         quo  pertinet 
ergo  :  what  then  is  the  object  ? 

36.  illis :    refers  to  lupos,  for  though  they  were  mentioned  last, 
Horace  is  speaking  especially  of  mullets. 

38.    raro:    modifies  ieiunus.         volgaria :    common  foods;  the 
adjective  is  used  as  a  substantive. 


248  BOOK  II.     SERMO  2.  [PAGE  48. 

39.  magnum  :  sc.  mullum,  a  big  one. 

40.  vellem  :  /  should  like  (to  see)  ;  the  form  of  the  apodosis  con- 
trary to  fact,  since  his  wish  is  not  likely  to  be  realized.          Harpyiis 
digna  :  i.e.  deserving  to  be  persecuted  by  the  Harpies  ;  cf.  Epod.  12.  1, 
mulier  nigris  dignissima  barris.         at  vos  :    but,  at  any  rate,  if  we 
cannot  count  upon  the  Harpies,  do  you. 

41.  praesentes :    who  are  with  us,  contrasted  with  the  absent 
Harpies.        coquite  .  .  .  obsonia  :    cook  their  dainties  for  them, 
i.e.  taint  them.         quamquam :  and  yet  (it  is  not  necessary  for  the 
South  Wind  to  spoil  the  food,  for). 

42.  putet :  i.e.  the  sated  glutton  can  so  little  appreciate  dainty 
dishes,  that  they  might  as  well  be  spoiled.      Cf.  Cic.  Acad.  frag.  ii.  8, 
quibus  etiam  alabaster  plenus  unguenti  putere  videatur.         mala  co- 
pia  :    cloying   abundance.          quando :    causal,    since   Horace   uses 
temporal  quando  only  of  the  future  (Kiessling).    The  use  of  temporal 
quando  seems  to  have  disappeared  from  the  sermo  urbanus  at  an 
early  period. 

43.  sollicitat :    turns ;    cf.  Celsus,  Praef.,  sollicitare  stomachum 
vomitu.        rapula  :    a  kind  of   small  turnip  or  radish,   which  was 
pickled  and  used  as  an  appetizer;  cf.  ii.  8.  8,  acria  circum  Eapula,  lac- 
tucae,  radices,  qualia  lassum  Pervellunt  stomachum. 

44.  acidas  inulas  :  the  root  of  the  elecampane,  pickled  in  vine- 
gar ;    cf.  ii.  8.  51,  inulas  amaras  •  Plin.  N.  H.  xviii.  91,  inula  per  se 
stomacho  inimicissima,  eadem  dulcibus  mixtis  saluberrima  .  .  .  ali- 
quando  pipere  aut  thymo  variata  defectus  praecipue  stomachi  excitat. 

45.  epulis  regum :    {even}  from  the  feasts  of  the  rich ;  for  this 
meaning  of  reges,  cf.   Odes,  i.  4.  14,  pauperum  tabernas  regumque 
turres.        ovis  .  .  .  oleis  :  these  formed  part  of  the  gustatio  ;  cf.  i. 
3.  6,  and  the  note. 

46.  baud  ita  pridem  :  not  so  very  long  ago. 

47.  Gallon!  :  cf.  Lucil.  1002  L.,  quoted  by  Cic.  de  Fin.  ii.  8.  24 :  0 
Publi,   O  gurges,   Galloni;  es  homo  miser,  inquit.     Cenasti  in  vita 
numquam  bene,  cum  omnia  in  ista  Consumis  squilla  atque  acipensere 
cum  decumano. 

48.  rhombus  :  a  kind  of  flat-fish,  which  derived  its  name  from  its 
shape  ;  usually  identified  with  the  turbot,  but  perhaps  a  species  of 
ray. 

49.  ciconia  :  Porph.  says  :  (Sempronius}  Eufus  instituisse  dicitur 
ut  ciconiarum  pulli  manducarentur :  isque  cum  repulsam  praeturae 
tulisset,  tale  epigramma  meruit :  — 


PAGE  48.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  2.  249 

Ciconiarum  Rufus  iste  conditor 
Licet  duobus  elegantior  Plancis, 
Suffragiorum  puncta  non  tulit  septem  : 
Ciconiarum  populus  ultus  est  mortem. 

If  this  be  true,  praetorius  is  ironical. 

51.  mergos  :  gulls  ;  cf.  Ovid,  Met.  xi.  795,  Aequor  amat  nomenque 
tenet  quia  mergitnr  illo.        suavis  :  i.e.  '  good  eating.'        edixei  it : 
the  word  is  chosen  with  reference  to  praetorius,  as  if  the  would-be 
praetor  had  issued  an  edict  to  that  effect. 

52.  pravi :  governed  by  docilis ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  6.  43,  docilis  modorum, 
and  see  Introd.  §  46.  a.        docilis  :  quick  to  learn,  with  reference  to 
docuit  in  line  50.        Romana  iuventus :  this  epic  phrase,  as  Orelli 
suggests,  may  well  have  been  used  ironically,  parodying  Ennius,  Ann. 
538,  Optuma  cum  pulcris  animis  Romana  iuventus  •  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i. 
467,  Troiana  iuventus. 

53.  sordidus.  etc.  :    while   recommending  frugal   living,  Ofellus 
would  not  approve  of  stinginess.        a  ...  victu :  for  the  construc- 
tion, cf.  Odes,  iii.  19.  1,  Quantum  distet  ab  Inacho  Codrus.    Horace 
also  uses  the  simple  ablative  in  Epist.  i.  7.  48,  and  the  dative  in  Odes, 
iv.  9.  29.         distabit:  a  kind  of  gnomic  use  of  the  future;  i.e.  'it 
will  be  found  to  differ' ;  cf.  Plaut.  Most.  1041,  qui  homo  timidus  erit, 
in  rebus  dubiis  nauci  non  erit. 

54.  vitaveris  .  .  .  detorseris :  the  future  perfect  in  the  protasis 
(vitaveris)  is  the  regular  use,  to  indicate  the  fulfilment  of  the  con- 
dition as  prior  to  that  of  the  conclusion  ;  detorseris  has  the  force  of  a 
simple  future,  a  usage  common  in  colloquial  language  ;  cf.  Caes.  B.  G. 
iv.  25,  ego  certe  meum  officium  rei  publicae  praestitero,  where  Caesar  is 
quoting  the  words  of  a  common  soldier. 

55.  pravum  detorseris :  see  note  on  vitium,  i.  3. 1.       Avidienus : 
a  notorious  miser  of  the  day. 

56.  Canis :    on  account  of  his  bad  temper  and  dirty  habits ;  cf. 
Epist.  i.  2.  26,  canis  immundis.    ex  vero  dictum  :   rightly  applied. 

57.  quinquennis  :  five  years  old;  i.e.  kept  so  long  as  to  be  spoiled. 
est  ^  from  edo.        corna  :  cornel  berries,  which  grew  wild  and  there- 
fore cost  nothing  ;   according  to  Columella,  vii.  9,  they  were  used  as 
food  for  swine  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  16.  9,  where  their  association  with  pruna 
seems  to  imply  that  Horace  himself  did  not  disdain  them. 

58.  nisi  mutatum :  until  it  has  turned,  i.e.  soured.        defundere  : 
pour  out  from  the  amphora  into  cups  for  drinking. 


250  BOOK   II.     SERMO  2.  [PAGE  48. 

59.  cuius  odorem  olei:  i.e.  oleum  cuius  odorem  ;  olei  is  in  sense 
the  object  of  instillat,  but  is  attracted  to  the  case  of  the  relative  ;  cf. 
Virg.  Aen.  i.  573,  urbem  quam  statuo  vestra  est.        licebit :  although ; 
the  present  licet  became  a  conjunction,  but  the  verb  was  used  origi- 
nally in  other  tenses  as  well  with  the  same  general  force.     Cf.  Cic. 
Verr.  ii.  5.  5.  11,  exspectate  f acinus  quamvultis  improbum,  for  the  usual 
quamvis. 

60.  repotia  :  wedding  breakfasts ;  repotia  postridie  nuptias  apud 
novum  maritum  cenatur,  quia  quasi  reficitur  potatio,  Test.  p.  388. 

61.  albatus:  in  full  dress,  lit.  clad  in  (a)  white  (toga}.     Cf.  Cic. 
Vatin.  12. 30,  quis  umquam  cenarit  atratusf  and  ibid.  13.  31  (of  a  funeral 
feast),  cum  ipse  epuli  dominus  albatus  esset.        cornu  ipse  bilibri: 
he  poured  the  oil  with  his  own  hand  from  the  large  horn  in  which  it 
was  kept,  being  too  mean  to  buy  a  flask  (gutta)  for  use  at  the  table, 
and  fearing  that  his  guests  might  help  themselves  too  liberally.     He 
was  sparing  of  his  oil  and  free  with  his  vinegar,  while  to  make  a 
good  salad  he  should  have  followed  the  reverse  practice.     Since  he  did 
not  drink  his  wine  until  it  had  turned  sour,  he  had  an  abundance  of 
vinegar  (see  line  58  above). 

63.  igitur  :    well  then ;  after  showing  the  evils  of  extravagance 
and  of  stinginess,  Horace  advises  a  middle  course.     The  post-positive 
position  of  igitur  is  the  classical  usage,  and  is  invariably  found  in 
Horace.        horum  utrum :  i.e.  the  extravagant  (gluttonous)  man,  or 
the  miser. 

64.  aiunt :  the  saying  is;  i.e.  it  was  a  well-known  proverb;  cf. 
Plaut.  Gas.  971,  hac  lupi,  hac  canes.    An  English  parallel  is,  '  between 
the  devil  and  the  deep  sea.' 

65.  mundus  erit,  qua :  i.e.  he  will  be  elegant  to  the  extent  of  not 
giving  offence  by  meanness ;  cf.  i.  2.  123,  munda  hactenus  ut  neque 
longa  Nee  magis  alba  velit  .  .  .  videri,  to  which  this  seems  to  be  the 
corresponding  relative  construction  in  a  somewhat  condensed  form. 
With  the  sentiment,  cf.  Cic.  de  Off.  i.  36,  130,  adhibenda  praeterea 
munditia  est  non  odiosa  neque  exquisita  nimis,  tantum  quae  fugiat 
agrestem  et  inhumanam  neglegentiam. 

66.  cultus:  genitive  with  miser;  cf.  cerebri  felicem,  i.  9.  11,  and 
see  Introd.  §  40.  a.        miser:   'pitiful,'  i.e.  despicable.     Cf.  ii.  8.  18, 
dimtias  miseras.     He  will  not  be  open  to  censure  in  either  direction 
as  regards  his  mode  of  life.         hie  :  such  a  man. 

67.  Albuci  :  identified  by  Porphyrio  with  the  person  mentioned  in 
ii.  1.  48,  qui,  ob  cupiditatem  nimiam  habendi  alienam  uxorem,  suam 


PAGE  49.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  2.  251 

veneno  necavit ;  but  this  is  probably  a  mere  guess  on  his  part.  dum 
munia  dedit :  i.e.  while  assigning  them  their  duties  as  waiters  at  the 
table. 

68.  saevns  erit :  i.e.  punish  them  beforehand  for  mistakes  which 
they  might  make,  as  Cato  is  said  to  have  done.  simplex :  easy- 
going, and  hence  careless.  unctam  .  .  .  praebebit  aquam :  i.e. 
give  his  guests  greasy  water  to  wash  their  hands  in  before  dinner ;  cf. 
i.  4.  88,  and  the  note. 

70.  nunc :  after  showing  the  difference  between  extravagant  and 
frugal  living,  the  poet  comes  back  to  his  subject  as  stated  in  line  1. 
quae  quantaque:  what  great  advantages  ;  cf.  line  1. 

71.  valeas :    potential   subjunctive  with   an  implied  protasis,  si 
tenui  victu  utaris.        variae  res:  a  mixed  diet. 

72.  ut:  how.        memor  :  serves  as  the  protasis  of  credasj  if  you 
should  call  to  mind. 

73.  simplex :  when  eaten  alone,  contrasted  with  variae  res.       tibi 
sederit :  agreed  with  you,  i.e.  digested  quietly,  contrasted  with  stoma- 
cho  tumultum  fert  in  line  75.     The  subjunctive  is  due  to  the  idea  of 
indirect  discourse  implied  in  memor.      Tibi  is  dative  of  interest. 
simul  =  simul  ac,  as  frequently. 

74.  miscuerls :    future  perfect.      For  the  long  i,  cf.  ii.  5.  101 ; 
Odes,  iv.  7.  20  and  21 ;  and  see  Introd.  §  57. 

76.  pituita :  scanned  in  three  syllables,  the  u  being  treated  as  a 
semi-vowel. 

77.  cena  dubia :    cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  342,   cena  dubia  apponitur. 
Quid  istuc  verbist?     Ubi  tu  dubites  quid  sumas  potissimum.     The 
expression  had  doubtless  become  proverbial,  like  Epist.  i.  19.  41,  hinc 
illae  lacrimae.          quin  :  for  quin  etiam,  moreover.          corpus  .  .  . 
animum  :  not  only  is  the  body  affected  by  gluttony,  but  the  mind  as 
well. 

78.  vitiis  :  excesses;  see  note  on  i.  3.  1. 

79.  divinae  .  .  .  aurae :  the  soul  was  conceived  by  many  of  the 
Greek  philosophers  to  be  a  part  of  the  divine  essence. 

80.  alter:  the  other,  i.e.  the  temperate  man,  contrasted  with  the 
glutton,  whose  characteristics   are  sketched  in  the  preceding  lines. 
dicto  citius  :  apparently  a  colloquial  expression  ;  cf.  Cic.  Phil.  ii.  33. 
82,  omnia  sunt  citius  facta  quam  dixi.    It  modifies  sopori  .  .  .  dedit 
and  curata.    The  temperate  man  eats  a  light  supper  and  falls  asleep  at 
once.         curata :  used,  as  often,  of  refreshing  the  body   by  food  ; 
curare  membra  is  a  variation  of  the  common  expression  curare  corpus. 


252  BOOK  II.     SERMO  2.  [PAGE  49. 

81.  vegetus  :   fresh,   lively,  contrasted  with  line  77  f. ;  cf.  Liv. 
xxii.  47.  10,  fessi  cum  recentibus  ac  vegetis  pugnabant. 

82.  tamen  :  i.e.  notwithstanding  his  usual  frugality.         melius  : 
more    generous   fare;    the    adjective    is    used    as    a    substantive. 
transcurrere :  change,  a   metaphorical  use  of  the  word.         quon- 
dam :  at  times;  quondam  has  the  same  meanings  as  olim ;  see  note 
on  i.  1.  25. 

84.  tenuatum  :  sc.  laborious  or  morbo.  Not  by  poor  living,  for 
frugal  living  has  been  shown  to  be  wholesome.  The  temperate  man 
will  allow  himself  a  more  luxurious  diet  when  he  actually  needs  it. 
ubique  accedent  anni  :  i.e.  when  he  grows  old. 

86.  tibi :  in  the  emphatic  position  ;  but  in  your  case  ;  dative  of 
reference  or  advantage.     With  the  general  sentiment,  cf.  Celsus,  i.  1, 
cavendum  ne  in  secunda  valetudine  adversae  praesidia  consumantur. 
quidnam  :  emphatic  interrogative,  what  on  earth  ? 

87.  praesumis :  anticipate  ;  i.e.  take  before  it  is  necessary.       mol- 
litiem  :  indulgence. 

88.  valetudo :  here,  as  often,  means  ill-health.        tarda  senec- 
tus  :  enfeebling  old  age,  a  conventional  epithet ;  cf.  Tibull.  ii.  2.  19, 
dum  tarda  senectus  Inducat  rugas.     Eor  a  similar  use  of  tarda,  cf. 
tarda  podagra,  i.  9.  32,  and  see  Introd.  §  49.  a. 

89.  rancidum:    high;  Comm.    Cruq.,    leviter  tantum  putentem. 
non  quia :  not  because,  introducing  the  statement  of  a  fact,  and 
hence  followed  by  the  indicative. 

90.  quod  .  .  .  consumeret :    a  substantive  clause,  explaining 
hac  mente  ;  subjunctive  because  it  represents  the  thought  of  the  anti- 
qui. 

91.  commodius  :  more  fittingly.        vitiatum  .  .  .  integrum :  sc. 
eum,  i.e.  aprum. 

93.  heroas  :  as  if  such  customs  belonged  only  to  the  Golden  Age. 
tellus  .  .  .  prima :  cf.  primis  terris,  i.  3.  99. 

94.  das  aliquid  famae  :  the  introduction  to  another  argument  for 
frugal  living,  —  that  one  has  a  better  reputation.      carmine  gratior  : 
cf.   Plin.  Epist.  vii.  21,  est  enim,  ut  Xenophon  ait,  TJSHTTOV  &KOV<T^O. 
STTCUPOS  (Xen.  Hier.  1.  14). 

95.  grandes  .  .  .  grande :  the  same  adjective  is  used  purposely. 
Note  the  emphatic  position  of  grande. 

96.  damno :  ruin,  in  a  financial  sense. 

97.  patruum  :  the  uncle  was  proverbial  for  severity  ;  cf.  Cic.  Cael. 
25,  patruus  pertristis;  Odes,  iii.  12.  3  ;  Serm.  ii.  3.  88.        vicinos  : 


PAGE  50.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  2.  253 

sc.  iratos.        iniquum  :  hateful ;  cf.  the  opposite  expression  in  Epist. 
i.  18.  101,  quid  te  tibi  reddat  amicum. 

99.  as,  laquei  pretium :    a  familiar  expression  in  comedy  and 
probably  in  the  colloquial  language  ;  cf.   Plaut.   Pseud.  88,  quid  de 
drachma  facere  vis?    Restim  volo  mihi  emere.     Quamobrem?     Qui 
me  faciam  pensilem  ;  and  our  familiar  expressions,  'go  hang  yourself,' 
'  I'll  be  hanged,'  and  the  like.        iure :  note  the  emphatic  position. 
inquit :  sc.  quispiam,  a  return  to  the  dialogue  form.     Cf.  inquit,  i.  4. 
79.         Trausius :    otherwise  unknown.      He  had   evidently   ruined 
himself  by   extravagant  living.         istis:    such   (as   you  have  just 
uttered). 

100.  vectigalia:  income,   used  commonly  of  the  revenues  of  a 
state,  but  sometimes  of  individuals  ;  cf.   Odes,  iii.  16.  40,  Contracto 
melius  parva  cupidine  Vectigalia  porrigam ;  Cic.  ad  Alt.  xii.  19.  1, 
equidem  iam  nil  egeo  vectigalibus  et  parvo  contentus  esse  possum.    In 
the  singular,  Cic.   Farad,  vi.  3.  49,  non  intellegunt  homines  quam 
magnum  vectigal  sit  parsimonia. 

101.  amplas:    great  enough  for;    cf.  Lucr.  v.  944,  pabula  .  .  . 
miseris  mortaUbus  ampla. 

102.  quod  superat:  the  surplus;  a  substantive  clause,  object  of 
insumere.        melius  :  a  better  object ;  the  adjective  is  used  as  a  sub- 
stantive, as  in  line  82.        quo  insumere  possis :  on  which  you  can 
spend  ;  quo  is  the  adverb  =  in  quod.     Cf.  i.  1.  73,  quo  valeat  nummus. 

103.  indignus  :  i.e.  contrary  to  his  deserts  ;  sc.  qui  egeat,  and  cf. 
Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  iv.  20.  46,  hominum  indignorum  calamitates. 

105.  emetiris:  bestow,  lit.  measure  out;  cf.  Cic.  Brut.  4.  16,  ego 
autem  voluntatem  tibi  emetiar. 

106.  uni  nimirum  .  .  .  :  i.e.  of  course  you  will  be  an  exception 
to  the  general  rule,  that  riches  have  wings.        recte  .  .  .  erunt :  the 
use  of  the  adverb  with  esse  is  colloquial ;  see  In  trod.  §  51.  a. 

107.  risus:  laughing-stock;  cf.  ii.  5,  37,  iocus.        uterne:  since 
uter  is  interrogative,  -ne  is  redundant ;  cf.  ii.  3.  295,  quone. 

108.  casus  dubios  :  i.e.  the  changes  of  fortune  ;  dubios  is  almost 
equivalent  to  adversos  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  9.  36,  et  secundis  Temporibus  dubi- 
isque  rectus. 

109.  adsuerit :  transitive  ;  cf.  i.  4.  105,  insuevit.        superbum  : 
pampered. 

111.  in  pace  .  .  .  aptarit  idonea  bello  :  cf.  our  proverbial  ex- 
pression, '  in  time  of  peace  prepare  for  war.'  ut  sapiens  :  cf.  ut 
avarus,  i.  1.  108. 


254  BOOK  II.     SERMO  2.  [PAGE  50. 

112.  quo  .  .  .  credas :  Horace  gives  a  practical  example  to  illus- 
trate his  theory.        his  :  these  precepts.        puer  .  .  .  parvus  .  .  . 
novi :  evidently  Ofellus  lived  near  Venusia. 

113.  integris  :  with  a  long  penult ;  cf.  integrum,  line  92.        la- 
tius  :  more  lavishly ;  cf.  Juv.  xiv.  234,  indulgere  sibi  lathis.     Latins 
is  the  opposite  of  anguste ;  cf.  Caes.  B.C.  iii.  16,  ad  rem  frumentariam 
expediendam  qua  anguste  utebatur  ;  and  for  the  adjective,  angustam 
pauperiem,  Odes,  iii.  2.  1. 

114.  videas  :  for  the  '  can  '-potential,  see  note  on  i.  4.  86.        me- 
tato :    confiscated,  forfeited,  since  the  lands  which  were  allotted  to 
the  soldiers  were  first  surveyed,  or  'measured';  cf.  Prop.  iv.  1.130, 
Abstulit  excultas  pertica  tristis  opes.    Metatus,  though  from  a  deponent 
verb,  is  often  used  with  passive  force. 

115.  fortem  mercede  colonum  :  a  sturdy  hired  man.     Umbre- 
nus  (see  134)  seems  to  have  left  the  farm  in  the  hands  of  Ofellus, 
paying  him  a  sum  of  money  for  working  it ;  mercede  is  ablative  of 
price,  though  the  use  of  such  an  ablative  modifying  a  substantive  is 
extremely  rare. 

116.  non  .  .  .  temere  :   not  without  some  special  reason ;   two 
reasons  are  mentioned  in  lines  118-119.        luce  profesta  :  a  working 
day;  profesta   is  opposed  to  sacra  in  Odes,  iv.  15.  25,  et  profestis 
lucibus  et  sacris. 

118.  longum  post  tempus  :  guests  were  rare  in  the  country. 

119.  operum  :  genitive  with  vacuo,  a  Grecism.    See  Introd.  §  40.  6. 
vacuo:   when  I  was  not  busy  (dative  agreeing  with  mihi),  hence 
gratus,  '  welcome.'        per  imbrem :  which  was  the  only  time  when 
he  and  his  neighbors  had  leisure  to  pay  visits. 

120.  bene  erat :  sc.  nobis,  '  we  made  merry  '  ;  cf.  recte  erunt,  line 
106,  and  see  Introd.  §  51.  a.        urbe :  Roma. 

121.  pensilis  uva:  raisins,  i.e.  grapes,  hung  up  and  dried;  cf. 
Plin.  N.H.  xiv.  16,  durant  aliae  per  hiemes,  pensili  concameratae  nodo. 
secundas  mensas :  dessert,  the  second  course,  consisting  usually  of 
fruit  and  the  like  ;  cf.  i.  3.  5,  and  the  note. 

122.  duplice  ficu:  i.e.  figs  split  in  two  and  dried. 

123.  post  hoc  .  .  .  magistra  :  i.e.  no  formal  magister  or  arbiter 
bibendi  was  appointed  (see  Odes,  ii.  7.  25),  but  certain  delinquencies 
were   punished  by  a  forfeit,  hence   culpa  magistra,   'with   a  fault 
acting  as  mistress  of  the  feast.'        potare:  predicate  to  Indus  erat; 
see  Introd.  §  46.  d. 

124.  venerata :  besought  by  prayer  •  cf.  Carm.  Saec.  49  ;  Serm. 


PAGE  52.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  255 

ii.  6.  8.  For  the  passive  use  of  the  participle,  see  on  line  114,  above. 
ita  .  .  .  surgeret :  the  correlative  clause  is  understood  :  ita  .  .  .  sur- 
gas,  ut  tibi  hum  vinum,  fundo,  or  the  like.  Surgeret  represents  surgas 
transferred  to  past  time  and  made  dependent  on  venerata ;  it  is  sub- 
junctive in  a  substantive  clause  developed  from  the  optative. 

125.  explicuit  .  .  .  frontis :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  29.  16  (mundae  paupe- 
rum  cende.)  sollicitam  explicuere  frontem. 

126.  nbvos:    i.e.    in    addition    to    the    one  which  had   already 
occurred. 

127.  hinc :    i.e.  from  such  a  mode  of  life  as  has  just  been  de- 
scribed,       parcius  .  .  .  nituistis:    of  good  condition  of  body;  i.e. 
how  much  less  well-fed  have  you  appeared. 

128.  pueri  :  here  equivalent  to  gnati ;  cf.  line  15.        ut :  since. 
incola  :  tenant,  used  instead  of  dominus,  for  the  reason  given  in  the 
next  line. 

129.  propriae  :  i.e.  to  hold  it  as  his  own,  permanently ;  cf.  Lucil. 
477  L.,  Cetera  contemnit  et  in  usura  omnia  ponit  Non  magna :  pro- 
prium  vero  nil  neminem  habere. 

130.  statuit :  has  settled,  with  the  idea  of  permanency. 

131.  nequities  :    incapacity,    shiftlessness.          vafri  .  .  .   iuris : 
i.e.  to  be  understood  only  by  the  vafer  (homo*);  cf.  ius  anceps,  ii.  5. 
34.    Note  the  different  idea  of  the  jurist  Trebatius,  ii.  1.  81,  sanctarum 
inscitia  legum. 

132.  postremum :    masculine  adjective  agreeing  with  ilium,  at 
the  end  of  his  life ;  or  adverb  ;  cf.  Cic.  de  Orat.  iii.  2.  6,  in  quo  (vesti- 
gfi'o)  ille  postremum  institisset.        certe  :  at  any  rate  ;  i.e.  if  neither 
incompetency  nor  ignorance  of  legal  trickery  does. 

134.  nulli :  dative  of  the  possessor,  with  erit.        proprius  :  per- 
manently, like  propriae  in  line  129. 

135.  vivite  fortes,  etc. :  with  the  sentiment,  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi.  95, 
Tu  ne  cede  malis,  sed  contra  audentior  ito  ;  i.  207,  Durate  et  vosmet 
rebus  servate  secundis. 

SERMO  III. 

1.  sic  raro  scribis :  for  a  similar  use  of  sic,  cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  8.  26, 
quas  quidem  (i.e.  Cfraecas  litteras')  sic  avide  arripui  .  .  .  ut  ea  ipsa 
mihi  nota  essent,  quibus  me  nunc  exemplis  uti  videtis.     On  scribis,  see 
Introd.  §  57. 

2.  membranam :   parchment,  on  which   books   were  sometimes 
written;  sometimes  charta,  'papyrus,'  was  used;  cf.  i.  5.  104,  Brun- 


256  BOOK   II.     SEKMO  3.  [PAGE  52. 

disium  longae  finis  chartaeque  viaeque  est.  retexens :  undoing, 
lit.  unweaving ;  for  the  force  of  re-,  cf.  Odes,  i.  28.  11,  refigere  ;  Epist. 
i.  7.  9,  rcsignare. 

3.  benignus  :  given  to  ;  on  vini  somnique,  see  Introd.  §  40.  a. 

4.  dignum  sermone  :  worth  mentioning.        quid  fiet :  i.e.  what 
will  you  produce  ?        at :  but  after  all.     There  is  some  hope  that  he 
will  accomplish  something.        ipsis  Saturnalibus  :  just  at  the  Satur- 
nalia, a  time  of  general  holiday,  hence  the  fact  that  the  poet  has  with- 
drawn to  the  country  is  an  indication  that  he  proposes  to  do  some 
serious  work.     Cf.  Plin.  Epist.  ii.  17.  24,  in  hanc  ego  diaetam  cum  me 
recepi,  abesse  mihi  etiam  a  villa  mea  videor,  magnamque  eius  volupta- 
tem  praecipue  Saturnalibus  capio,  cum  reliqua  pars  tecti  licentia  die- 
rum  festisque  clamoribus  personal :  nam  nee  ipse  meorum  lusibus  nee 
illi  studiis  meis  obstrepunt.     The  Saturnalia,  at  first  celebrated  on  the 
17th  of  December,  were,  in  the  last  century  of  the  Republican  period, 
extended  to  seven  days.    Augustus  limited  the  holiday  to  three  days, 
so  far  as  legal  business  was  concerned. 

5.  hue  :   i.e.  to  his  Sabine  farm,  given  him  by  Maecenas  about 
33  B.C.        sobrius :    when   every  one   else  was  drinking ;   note  .the 
emphatic  position.     Cf.  Juv.  vii.  96,  vinum  toto  nescire  Decembri. 

6.  dignum  promissis  :  cf.  Epist.  ii.  1.  53  (Ennius)  leviter  curare 
videtur,   Quo  promissa  cadant;   Ars  Poet.   138,   Quid  dignum  tanto 
feret  hie  promissor  hiatu.        nil  est :  i.e.  nothing  comes  of  the  effort. 

7.  culpantur  frustra  calami  :   cf.   Pers.   iii.  12,   Tune  queritur, 
crassus  calamo  quod  pendeat  umor,  Nigra  quod  infusa  vanescat  sepia 
lympha,  Dilutas  queritur  geminet  quod  fistula  guttas.        immeritus  : 
cf.  indignus,  ii.  2.  103,  Cur  eget  indignus  quisquam,  te  divite.        labo- 
rat  .  .  .  paries  :  i.e.  it  is  pounded  by  the  poet  in  his  desperation. 

8.  iratis  natus  dis  :  a  common  expression,  here  jestingly  ampli- 
fied by  atque  poetis ;  cf.  i.  5.  97  ;  Ter.  Andr.  664,  nescio,  nisi  mi  deos 
fuisse  iratos,  qui  auscultaverim  ;  Juv.  x.  129,  Dis  ille  adversis  genitus 
fatoque  sinistro. 

9.  atqui  voltus  erat :  sc.  tibi ;  yet  you  had  the  look  (when  you 
left  the  city).         minantis:  humorously  used  in  the  sense  of  promis- 
ing, boasting  that  you  would  do ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  8.  3,  multa  et  pulchra 
minantem. 

10.  vacuum :    sc.  te ;  at  leisure.         tepido  :   warm,   contrasted 
with  the  less  easily  heated  city  houses.        villula  :   your  own  little 
villa;  note  the  force  of  the  diminutive,  and  cf.  lectulus,  i.  4.  133,  with 
the  note. 


PAGE  53.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  257 

11.  quorsum  pertinuit :  what  was  the  use?  Cf.  ii.  2.  35,  quo  per- 
tinet  ergo  Proceros  odisse  lupos.  Platona :  from  the  connection 
the  reference  is  probably  to  the  writer  of  comedy  (428-389  B.C.)  who 
forms  a  connecting  link  between  the  Old  and  the  Middle  Comedy. 
Otherwise  Horace's  well-known  tastes  would  lead  us  to  think  of  the 
philosopher.  We  get  here  interesting  light  on  Horace's  method  of 
work.  Menandro :  ablative  of  association.  See  Introd.  §  41.  6. 

13.  virtute  relicta :  i.e.  by  ceasing  to  satirize  vice. 

14.  contemnere  :  as  well  as  hated.      improba :  froward,  because 
she  tempts  men  to  idleness,  as  the  Sirens  tempted  Odysseus  and  his 
companions. 

15.  quicquid  parasti :  i.e.  the  reputation  which  you  had  acquired. 

16.  ponendum :    given  up ;   the  simple  verb  for  the  compound 
deponendum.        di  te  .  .  .  donent :  a  formula  used  to  express  wishes 
for  good  or  evil ;  cf.  Catull.  28. 14,  At  vobis  mala  multa  di  deaeque  Dent ; 
Plaut.  Pseud.  271,  di  te  deaeque  ament.     Tonsore,  which  is  withheld 
until  the  end  of  the  sentence,  takes  the  place  of  such  a  wish,  vapa. 
irpoffdoKtav  ;  cf.  bonorum,  i.  1.  79 ;  minora,  i.  3.  20. 

17.  unde  :  how  ? 

18.  lanurn   ad  medium  :    i.e.    at  the  middle   of  Janus  Street, 
extending  along  the  north  side  of  the  Forum,  from  the  Comitium  to 
the  Temple  of  Antonius  and  Faustina.    The  street  seems  to  have  been 
called  ad  lanurn  from  the  temple  of  the  god  which  stood  near  by,  at 
the  entrance  of  the  Via  Argiletana.      It  was  frequented  by  money- 
lenders, bankers,  and  the  like,  whence  the  term  ad  lanum  medium 
was  typical,  like  our  'on  Wall  Street.'     Cf.  Cic.  de  Off.  ii.  24.  87,  de 
quaerenda,  de  conlocanda  pecunia,  etiam  de   utenda,  commodius  a 
quibusdam  optimis  viris  ad  lanum  medium  sedentibus  quam  ab  ullis 
philosophis  ulla  in  schola  disputatur. 

19.  fracta  est :  wrecked,  a  not  uncommon  metaphor  ;  cf.  Cic.  pro 
Sull.  14.  41,  patrimonio  naufragus. 

20.  quaerere  :  investigate ;  as  a  judge  and  buyer  of  antiquities. 

21.  quo  .  .  .  aere  :  used  humorously  for  ancient  Corinthian  bronzes. 
Similarly,  i.  3.  91,  catillum  Evandri  manibus  tritum  deiecit.    Corinthian 
bronzes  were  highly  prized  ;  cf.  i.  4.  28,  stupet  Albius  aere,  and  the 
note. 

22.  sculptum  . . .  fusum :  used  respectively  of  marble  and  bronze, 
durius :  too  rudely,  stiffly,  contrasted  with  mollius  ;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi. 
847,  Excudent  alii  spirantia  mollius  aera;  and  somewhat  similarly, 
Ars  Poet.  33,  mollis  imitabitur  aere  capillos. 


258  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  53. 

23.  callidus:  shrewdly,  i.e.  cum  lucro ;  cf.  line  25.        ponebam: 
paid  for,  invested  in;  cf.  i.  2.  13,  positis  in  faenore  nummis  ;  Epod.  2. 
70,  Omnem  redegit  Idibus  pecuniam,  Quaerit  Kalendis  ponere. 

24.  mercarier :  the  archaic  form  of  the  present  passive  infinitive, 
common  in  comedy  and  perhaps  in  the  language  of  everyday  life. 
See  Introd.  §  35.  a.        unus :  /  alone. 

25.  Mercuriale :  the  favorite  of  Mercury,  as  the  god  of  trade;  see 
Odes,  i.  2.  41,  and  the  note;  Odes,  ii.  17.  29.     Mercuriale  instead  of 
Mercurialis,  through  attraction  to  cognomen. 

26.  compita:    the  street-corners,  where  auctions  were  held;    cf. 
Cic.  de  Leg.  Agr.  1.  3.  7,  at  hoc  etiam  nequissimi  homines  consumptis 
patrimoniis  faciunt,  ut  in  atriis  auctionariis  potius  quam  in  triviis 
aut  in  compitis  aiictionentur. 

27.  morbi :  genitive  of  separation  in  imitation  of  the  Greek  con- 
struction ;  cf.    Odes,  i.  22.  1,  sceleris  purus,  and  see  Introd.  §  40.  b. 
Purgo  is  sometimes  constructed  with  the  ablative  of  separation,  or 
with  the  ablative  with  ab. 

28.  mire  :  modifying  emovit ;  it  is  remarkable  how,  etc.        novus  : 
sc.  morbus. 

29.  lateris  dolore :  cf.  i.  9.  32,  laterum  dolor. 

30.  ut .  .  .  cum  :  as  is  the  case  when.        hie  :  for  example. 

31.  dum  ne :  sc.  facias;  i.e.  provided  you  don't  attack  me.         esto 
ut  libet :  i.  e.  have  any  craze  you  like.         o  bone  :  my  good  fellow  ;  a 
somewhat  patronizing  expression  ;  cf.  ii.  6.  51  and  95  ;  Epist.  ii.  2.  37. 

32.  stulti  prope  omnes :  sc.  sunt ;  the  statement  is  softened  by 
prope ;  cf.  i.  3.  96,  quis  paria  esse  fere  placuit  peccata. 

33.  Stertinius :  mentioned  also  in  Epist.  i.  12.  20 ;  otherwise  un- 
known,      crepat :  prattles,  prates,  a  contemptuous  term.        uiide : 
for  a  quo,  to  be  taken  with  docilis  in  approximately  the  sense  of  doctus; 
cf.  Odes,  iii.  11.  1,  te  docilis  magistro ;  Auct.  ad  Her.  iii.  4.  7,  lauda- 
bile  aut  ab  idoneis  hominibus  aut  omnibus  civibus. 

34.  tempore  quo :  at  the  time  when. 

35.  solatus:  i.e.  for  the  loss  of  his  fortune.        sapientem  pas- 
cere  barbam:  to  grov)  a  philosophic  beard;  ironical,  as  if  that  were 
the  only  thing  needful   in  order  to  become  a  philosopher ;   cf.  Plin. 
Epist.  i.  22.  6,  ex  istis  qui  sapientiae  studium  habitu  corporis  prae- 
ferunt. 

36.  Fabricio  .  .  .  ponte:  the  bridge  connecting  the  island  in  the 
Tiber  with  the  left  bank.     It  was  built  of  stone  by  Fabricius  in  G2  B.C., 
and  is  still  standing,  with  the  inscription  recording  its  construction. 


PAGE  54.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  '2~>\) 

37.  male  re  gesta  :  with  reference  to  line  18  above.         vellem  : 
I  was  on  the  point  of.        operto  .  .  .  capite  :  as  usual  when  about 
to  die  ;  cf.  Liv.  iv.  12.  11,  multi  ex  plebe  spe  amissa  .  .  .  capitibus 
obvolutis  se  in  Tiberim  praecipitaverunt ;  Suet.  Jul.  82,  utque  {Caesar} 
animadvertit  undique  se  strictis  pugionibus  peti,  toga  caput  obvolvit. 

38.  dexter  :  on  my  right,  hence  with  good  omen.         cavS  :  with 
short  c,  as  frequently.        faxis  :   an  archaic  form,  used  instead  of 
feceris;  really  an  aorist  optative,  fac-s-i-s;  cf.  ausim,  i.  10.  48. 

39.  malus :  false. 

40.  insanos  .  .  .  inter:    i.e.  among  people  who  are  as  mad  as. 
yourself.     Note  the  anastrophe,  common  with  dissyllabic  prepositions. 

41.  primum  :  introducing  a  discourse  on  the  subject  in  the  regular 
philosophic  manner.        quid  sit  furere  :  what  madness  is  ;  furere  is 
the  subject  of  sit. 

42.  nil  verbi:  equivalent  to  nullum  verbum;  verbi  is  genitive  of 
the  whole  ;  cf.  van  is  rerum,  ii.  2.  25,  and  the  note.         pereas  quin  : 
to  prevent  you  from  dying,  governed  by  the  idea  of  preventing  implied 
in  nil  verbi  addam. 

44.  caecum   agit :    drives   blindly  on;    caecum  modifies  quern. 
Chrysippi  porticus  :  the  o-rod  at  Athens,  where  the  Stoics  taught ; 
Chrysippus  was  once  the  head  of  the  School ;  see  note  on  1.3.  126. 
grex:  i.e.  his  followers,  disciples;    cf.  Epist.  i.  4.    16,  Epicuri  de 
grege  porcum. 

45.  autumat :    declare,   an    archaic   word.         populos :    whole 
nations;  note  the  plural.         formula:  definition. 

46.  sapiente :    the  philosopher.     See  Introd.  §  35.  c.         tenet : 
embraces.        nunc  :   introducing  the  second  head  of  the  discourse  ; 
cf.  primum,  line  41. 

48.  insano :    attracted  to  the   case   of    tibi,   as    often    in    such 
expressions. 

49.  palantis:  used  proleptically  with  pellit. 

50.  unus  .   .  .  partibus :   i.e.  one  mistake,  that  of  leaving  the 
path,  but  in  different  directions.  t 

53.  caudam  trahat ;  i.e.  is  himself  an  object  of  ridicule  ;  Porph. 
says  :  solent  enim  pueri  deridentes  n$scientibus  a  tergo  caudam  suspen- 
dere,  ut  velut  pecus  caudam  trahant. 

54.  nihilum  :    the  earlier  and  fuller  form  of  nihil  =  ne  hilum, 
not  a  whit.        timentis  :  which  fears,  equivalent  to  a  relative  clause. 

55.  in  campo  :  i.e.  on  a  level,  unbroken  plain. 

56.  varum  :  i.e.  diversum,  constructed  with  the  dative,  cf.  i.  4.  48, 


260  BOOK   II.     SERMO   3.  [PAGE  r,4. 

differt  sermoni  •  Epist.  i.  18.  3,  meretrici  dispar  •  and  the  usage  com- 
mon in  England,  '  different  to.' 

57.  clamet :  jussive  subjunctive  with  concessive  force.         arnica: 
best  taken  as  an  adjective  modifying  mater. 

58.  honesta  :  honored. 

59.  serva  :  look  out!  a  colloquial  expression,  common  in  comedy. 

61.  Ilionam    edormit :     slept    through    the   part    of  Ilione,    in 
Pacuvius's  play  of  the  same  name.     While  personating  the  sleeping 
Ilione,  the  drunken  actor  went  to  sleep  and  so  missed  his  cue,  which 
was  mater,  te  appello.    Ilionam  is  accusative  of  the  inner  object  in  its 
freer  form  ;  cf.  i.  5.  63,  and  the  note  ;  Introd.  §  38.  b.        Catienis  mille 
ducentis  :  i.e.  the  entire  audience  took  the  cue  from  the  mouth  of 
Catienus,  who  was  playing  Deiphobus,  and  shouted  it  to  the  sleeping 
actor,  but  in  vain.     Mille  ducentis  is  used  indefinitely  of  a  large 
number.     See  Introd.  §  50. 

62.  huic  .  .  .  errori  :  i.e.  the  genuine  madness  just  described. 

63.  similem:    sc.  errorem,  accusative  of  the  inner  object  with 
sanire  ;  cf.  Ilionam,  line  61 ,  and  the  note. 

64.  insanit :  has  a  craze  for ;  cf.  i.  4.  28,  stupet  Albius  aere. 

65.  integer  mentis :  for  the  construction,  cf.  Odes,  i.  22.  1,  integer 
vitae.        esto :  i.e.  suppose  (for  the  moment)  he  is  ;  let  us  look  into 
the  matter ;  cf.  i.  6.  19. 

66.  reddas :  the  jussive  force  of  accipe  is  carried  into  the  relative 
clause. 

67.  magis  excors  :  comparative,  still  more  mad  (than  an  insanus). 
Ex-cors,  because  the  heart  was  regarded. as  the  seat  of  the  mind  ;  cf. 
Juv.  vii.  159,  quod  laeva  in  parte  mamillae  Nil  salit  Arcadico  iuveni. 

68.  reiecta  praeda  :  with  the  force  of  a  condition,  parallel  with 
si  acceperis  in  the  line  above.          praesens  :  propitious.     Mercury 
was  the  god  of  thieves  as  well  as  of  traders  ;  cf.  line  25  above. 

69.  scribe  :  enter,  in  your  account  book ;  addressed  to  the  cred- 
itor;    a  technical    term;    cf.   Cic.   Hose.    Com.   I.  2,  quemadmodum 
turpe  est  scribere  quod  non  debeatur,  sic  improbum  est  -non  referre 
quod  debeas.         decem  :  sc.  milia  sestertium,  i.e.  a  million  sesterces 
(about  $50,000).          a  Nerio  :  i.e.  to  be  paid  by  Nerius.     A  Nerio  is 
not  ablative  of  the  agent,  but  scribe  aliquid  ab  aliquo  is  a  technical 
term  ;  cf.  Plaut.  Trin.  182,  a  me  argentum  dedi ;  Cure.  618,  pro  istac  rem 
solvi  ab  trapezita  meo;  Cic.  Verr.  ii.  3.  76. 177,  hinc  ab  aerario  pecuniam 
numerari.        non  est  satis  :  paratactic  construction  with  conditional 

.  force  ;  if  that  is  not  enough,  add,  etc.         Cicutae :  a  money-lender, 


PAGE  55.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO   3.  261 

mentioned  again  in  line  175,  but  otherwise  unknown.     The  name  may 
well  be  a  made-up  one,  from  cicuta  '  hemlock.'     See  Introd.  §  32. 

70.  nodosi  :  crafty,'  skilful  in  binding  his  debtor ;   cf.  Juv.  viii. 
50,  Qui  iuris  nodos  et  legum  aenigmata  solvat.         catenas :  with  the 
same  metaphor  as  in  nodosi. 

71.  tamen  :  yet ;  i.  e.  though  you  take  all  these  precautions  to  secure 
payment.         Proteus  :  so  called  on  account  of  his  skill  in  extricating 
himself  from  toils  ;  see  Epist.  i.  1.  90 ;  Virg.  Gear.  iv.  387  f . ;   Odyss. 
iv.  456  f . 

72.  mails  ridentem  alienis  :  i.e.  laughing  at  his  creditor's  expense, 
or  perhaps  laughing  loudly.      Undoubtedly  with  reference  to  Odyss. 
XX.  347,  (j.vr)<TTf)p<ri  d£  IlaXXds  ' ' A.6-f)vri  AfffiecrTov  y&u  wptre,  iraptir\ay£€t> 
5£   v6rjiJ.a.     Oi'5'  t]drf  yvad/jt.oio'i  yeXolwv  dXXor ptour iv .     The  reference  in 
the  Homeric  passage  is  to  forced,  unnatural  laughter.     Horace  may 
have  misunderstood  the  meaning,  or  he  may  use  the  term  humorously 
without  regard  to  its  original  force.      Cf.  Valerius  Flaccus,  viii.  164 
(of  Medea),  alieno  gaudia  vultu  semper  erant. 

74.  male  rem  gerere :  to  ivaste  one's  property  through  mismanage- 
ment ;  cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  1. 22,  quemadmodum  nostro  more  male  rem  geren- 
tibus  patribus  bonis  interdict  solet.        contra  :  sc.  facere  ;  the  reverse. 

75.  putidius  :  more  '  addled. '        Perelli  :  the  name  of  the  creditor. 

76.  dictantis :  i.e.  bidding  you  write  an  agreement  to  pay  what 
you  cannot  pay ;   with  a  play  on  the  words  scribere  (implied)  and  re- 
scribere.         rescribere:  repay;  cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  921,  transi  sodes  ad 
forum  atque  illud  mihi  argentnm  rursum  iube  rescribi. 

77.  togam  .  .  .  componere  :  that  is,  to  settle  oneself,  to  listen  to 
a  long  discourse. 

80.  calet :  is  in  a  fever.        me  :  accusative  governed  by  propius, 
which  has  the  force  of  a  preposition  ;  cf.  Cic.  Phil.  vii.  9.  26,  propius 
urbem. 

81.  ordine  :   to  be  taken  with  doceo ;   cf.  Plaut.  Mil.  875,  rem 
omnem  tibi  .  .  .  domi  demonstravi  ordine  (note  the  similar  position 
of  the  word). 

82.  ellebori :    regarded  as  a  cure  for  insanity ;    the  best  came 
from  Anticyra  in  Phocis.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  300,  tribus  Anticyris  caput 
insanabile.        avaris  :    since  avarice  is  the  principal   cause  of  dis- 
content and  foolish  conduct,  see  i.  1. 

83.  nescio  an:   I  rather  think.        omnem  Anticyram :   i.e.  all 
the  hellebore 'in  the  world.     See  note  on  line  82  above.        ratio  :  a 
fair  calculation. 


262  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  55. 

84.  Staberi :  otherwise  unknown.        summam  :  i.e.  the  amount 
which  had  been  left  them.     So  Trimalchio  (Petr.  71)  wishes  cut  on 
his  tomb  :  pius,  fortis,  fidelis,  ex  parvo  crevit,  sestertium  reliquit  tre- 
centies,  nee  umquam  philosophum  audivit. 

85.  fecissent :  implied  indirect  discourse,  representing  the  future 
perfect  used  by  the  testator ;  ni  fecisset  depends  on  damnati  dare. 

86.  paria  :  cf.  i.  7.  19.     These  were  to  be  exhibited  at  the  funeral 
games.     One  hundred  pairs  was  a  large,  but  not  an  unheard-of,  number. 
arbitrio  Arri :  i.e.  such  as  Arrius  would  order.     The  reference  is  to 
Quintus  Arrius,  mentioned  by  Cic.  Vatin.  13.  31,  who  gave  a  dinner  at 
which  several  thousand  guests  were  present  (cum  tot  hominum  milia 
accumberent} . 

87.  frumenti :  sc.  et,  which  has  perhaps  been  lost  from  the  text ; 
also  a  distribution  of  grain.     Africa  was  at  this  time  the  granary  of 
Italy  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  10,  Quicquid  de  Libycis  verritur  areis. 

88.  ne  sis  patruus :  don't  play  the  stern  uncle,  and  lecture  me. 
On  patruus,  cf.  ii.  2.  97  and  the  note.     The  words  give  the  thought  of 
Staberius,  uttered  in  anticipation  of  the  protests  of  his  heirs  (hoc  pru- 
dentem  .  .  .  vidisse). 

89.  hoc :  i.e.  sive  ego  prave,  etc.,  above.       prudentem :  prophetic. 
quid  ergo  sensit :  what  was  his  idea? 

91.  quoad :  occurs  only  here  in  Horace,  and  is  very  rare  in  poetry  ; 
scanned  as  one  syllable.     See  Introd.  §  57. 

92.  acrius  :  sc.  quam pauper iem.        ut :  so  much  so  that;  cf.  i.  1. 
95,  dives  ut.    Here  we  have  no  word  which  leads  up  to  the  result  clause. 

93.  uno  quadrante  :  ablative  of  measure  of  difference.      perisset : 
standing  for  the  future  perfect  indicative  of  Staberius's  thought,  implied 
in  videretur. 

95.  pulchris  divitiis  :  cf.  Juv.  xiii.  33,  quas  habeat  veneres  aliena 
pecunia. 

96.  parent :    are  inferior  to.        construxerit :    with  the  same 
metaphor  in  mind  as  in  constructus  acervus,  i.  1.  44. 

97.  sapiensne :   such  short  questions  were  characteristic  of  the 
Stoics  ;  cf.  Cic.  Farad,  praef .  2,  Cato  perfectus  .  .  .  Stoicus  .  .  .  minutis 
interroyatiunculis  quasi  punctis  quod  proposuit  efficit.        etiam:  even 
so,  yes  ;  cf.  Cic.  Acad.  ii.  32, 104,  aut '  etiam '  aut '  non '  respondere possit. 

98.  hoc  :  i.e.  that  he  died  rich.        paratum  :  won. 

99.  magnae  laudi  :  dative  of  purpose.         quid  simile  isti  :  sc. 
fecit ;  how  was  the  action  of  Aristippus  different  ?    Isti  has  a  con- 
temptuous force. 


PAGE  56.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  263 

100.  Aristippus :  a  disciple  of  Socrates,  and  founder  of  the  Cyrenaic 
school.     Of.  Epist.  i.  1.  18,  and  i.  17.  23.     The  story  is  told  by  Diogenes 
Laert.  ii.  8. '77. 

101.  irent :  note  the  subjunctive,  because  (in  his  opinion)  they 
were  going. 

103.  nil  agit:   has  no  force.        litem  quod  lite  resolvit:   i.e. 
which  solves  one  difficulty  by  raising  another. 

104.  emptas  :  i.e.  as  soon  as  he  bought  them. 

105.  musae  .  .  .  ulli :  i.e.  any  sort  of  music. 

106.  non  sutor  :  though  not  a  shoemaker. 

107.  aversus  mercaturis  :   i.e.  though  having  a  distaste  for  com- 
merce.   Mercaturis  is  dative  with  aversus;  cf.  line  56  above.     The 
more  common  construction  is  ab  and  the  ablative,  as  in  Cic.  pro  Arch. 
9.  20,  aversus  a  musis.        delirus :  lit.  out  of  the  furrow  (de-lira)  ; 
hence,  out  of  the  straight  course,  crazy. 

108.  undique  :  i.e.  by  all.        merito  :  note  the  emphatic  position, 
and  rightly,  too.        istis  :  with  contemptuous  force  ;  cf.  isti  in  line  99. 
For  the  case,  see  Introd.  §  39.  a. 

110.  metuens  .   .  .  sacrum:  cf.  i.  1.  71,  tamquam  parcere  sacris 
cogeris.     Velut  modifies  sacrum;   for  the  hyperbaton,  cf.  tamquam 
.  .  .  sacris  in  the  passage  just  cited. 

111.  ad:  beside. 

112.  illinc  :  as  if  tollere,  or  a  word  of  similar  meaning,  were  to 
follow. 

113.  esuriens  dominus  :  i.e.  quamvis  esuriens  et  dominus. 

115.  positis  intus  :  i.e.  stored  up  in  his  wine-cellar. 

116.  nihil  est :  correcting  the  preceding  too  modest  figure  ;  that's 
nothing.     Both  mille  and  tercentum  milibus  are  used  indefinitely  of  a 
large  number.     See  Introd.  §  50. 

117.  acetum  :  i.e.  wine  which  has  spoiled  (soured) ,  lit.  vinegar; 
cf.  Plant.  Rud.  937,  Sed  hie  rex  cum  aceto  pransurust  Et  sale,  sine  bono 
pulmento.        age  :  calling  attention  to  the  following  condition  ;  what 
if.        stramentis  :  straw,  without  a  coverlet ;  cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  xviii.  14, 
quies  somnusque  in  stramentis  erat.        unde-octoginta  .  .  .  natus: 
in  his  seventy-ninth  year.     Unde-octoginta  is  divided  between  two 
lines,  like  inter-est  in  i.  2.  62.     The  definite  year,  instead  of  a  general 
round  number,  individualizes  the  case  ;  cf.  Juv.  vi.  192,  Tune  etiam 
quam  sextus  et  octogesimus  annus  Putsat,  adhuc  Graece? 

118.  cui :  dative  of  reference,  nearly  equivalent  to  a  possessive 
genitive.         stragula  vestis  :  bed  clothing. 


264  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  56. 

120.  paucis :  in  contrast  to  line  107.     This  is  so  common  that  only 
few  people  would  regard  it  as  madness.     Nimirum  is  of  course  satirical. 

121.  iactatur:  is  suffering;  lit.  *  tossing •'  in  a  fever ;  cf.  Cic.  in 
Cat.  i.  13.  31,  aestu  febrique  iactantur. 

122.  ebibat :  may  drink  it  up,  with  special  reference  to  line  115, 
but  applying  as  well  to  the  other  riches,  which  the  heir  will  sell  and 
consume  ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  14.  25,  Absumet  heres  Caecuba  dignior.    Note 
the  interlocked  order  of  the  lines. 

123.  dis  inimice  :   hated  by  the  gods;  cf.  Odes,  i.  26.  1,  musis 
amicus,  and  line  8  above,  iratis  dis.         ne  tibi  desit :  sc.  custodis  ; 
lest  you  should  yourself  be  in  want;  cf.  i.  1.  98,  ne  penuria  victus 
opprimeret. 

124.  quantulum  :  diminutive,  what  an  insignificant  bit.        enim  : 
absurd,  for.        dienim :  genitive  of  the  whole  with  quisque,  instead 
of  quisque  dies. 

125.  oleo  meliore :   the  miser  economizes  in  the  same  way  as 
Avidienus  in  ii.  2.  55. 

126.  porrigine:  dandruff. 

127.  si  .  .  .  satis  est :  i.e.  if  only  the  bare  necessities  of  life  are 
needful,  — a  commonplace  of  the  philosophers,  which  had  become  pro- 
verbial ;  cf.  Plaut.  Mil.  749,  Si  certumst  tibi,  Commodulum  obsona,  ne 
magno  sumptu :  mihi  quidvis  sat  est;  Turp.  fr.  144  R.,  ut  philosophi 
aiunt,  isti  quibus  quidvis  sat  est.         surripis,  auiers:  used  respec- 
tively of  secret  theft  and  open  robbery. 

128.  tun  :  for  tune.     Emphatic  ;  are  YOU  ? 

129.  tuos :    emphatic  ;   your  own.         quos   acre   pararis  :   for 
which  you  have  paid  money  ;  cf.  Sail.  Jug.  31.  11,  servi  aere  parati. 

130.  omnes  pueri  .   .    .   puellae:    a  proverbial   expression  for 
every  one  (of  both  sexes);  cf.  i.  1.  85.     Note  the  irregular  position 
of  que,  not  uncommon  in  poetry. 

132.    quid  enim :  cf.  i.  1.  7.        neque  tu  .  .  .  ,  etc. :  ironical ; 
with  the  thought,  cf.  ii.  1.  54  f. 

134.  an  tu  reris  :  i.e.  did  Orestes  go  mad  only  after  killing  his 
mother  ? 

135.  actum  Furiis  :  driven  mad,  referring  to  the  impulse  which  led 
him  to  commit  murder,  as  well  as  to  the  avenging  furies  which  pun- 
ished the  deed.    Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  iii.  331,  scelerum  furiis  agitatus  Orestes. 

137.  quin  :  nay  ;  =  quin  etiam ;  cf.  i.  4.  30.         ex  quo:  sc.  tern- 
pore,        male  tutae  :  unsafe,  nearly  equivalent  to  male  sanae. 

138.  nil  sane  fecit :  he  certainly  did  nothing. 


PAGE  57.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  265 


141.  Furiam  :  cf.  Eur.  Orest.  264,  /J.C  o$<ra  r&v  tp.&v  'Epivtwv, 

\i  dxfuifaS'  hunc  aliud  :  doubtless  with  reference  to  a  scene  from 
some  lost  tragedy.  splendida  bills  :  his  wrath  ;  splendida  is  used 
literally;  cf.  Galen,  irepl  Alriuv  ~Zvfj.irTUfj.dTuv,  ii.  50,  /xAaiva  xoXr; 
ffn\irvoTtpa  avTov  TOV  O.I/J.O.TOS  ;  Pers.  iii.  8,  vitrea  bilis. 

142.  Opimius  :  probably  one  of  Horace's  made-up  names,  from 
opimus  ;  cf.  i.  6.  40,  Novius.     The  effect  of  the  name  is  heightened  by 
the  ironical  epithet  pauper  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  16.  28,  Magnas  inter  opes 
inops.        argenti  .  .  .  et  auri  :   genitive  with  pauper  ;  cf.  i.  1.  79, 
horum  pauperrimus  bonorum.        positi  intus  :  cf.  line  115  above. 

143.  Veientanum  :    a  very  inferior  red  wine  ;   cf.  Pers.  v.  147, 
Veientanum  rubellum,   vapida  laesum  pice.        festis   diebus  .  .  . 
profestis  :  cf.  ii.  2.  116. 

144.  Campana  trulla  :  cf.  i.  6.  118,  and  the  note  ;  the  trulla  was 
a  ladle  for  dipping  wine  from  the  crater  ;  Opimius  apparently  drank 
from  this  instead  of  from  a  wine-cup.        vappam  :  here  used  in  its 
literal  sense  ;  cf.  i.  1.  104,  and  the  note  ;  i.  5.  16. 

145.  lethargo  :  doubtless  caused  by  old  age  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  8.  10, 
veterno. 

147.  multum  celer  atque  fidelis  :  colloquial  for  celerrimus  atque 
fidelissimus  ;  cf.  i.  3.  57  ;  ii.  5.  92  ;  etc. 

148.  poni:  for  apponi  ;  the  simple  verb  for  a  compound  is  fre- 
quent in  poetry. 

149.  pluris  :  several  people. 

150.  ad  munerandum  :    as  if   the  property  were  going  to   be 
divided  among  the  heirs. 

151.  Jam  :  presently  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  4.  16,  iam  te  premet  nox. 

152.  vigila  :  rouse  yourself.        hoc  age  :  come  now  !    An  expres- 
sion common  in  comedy. 

153.  venae  :  here  means  the  blood  ;  cf.  Ovid,  ex  Pont.  iii.  1.  69,  Ad 
medicum  specto  venis  fugientibus  aeger. 

154.  ingens  :  tremendous,  a  purposely  strong  word.          fultura  : 
often  used  for  food  ;  cf.  Lucr.  ii.  1148,  fulcire  cibus  (debet}. 

155.  tisanarium  oryzae  :  rice-gruel;  tisanarium  from  the  Greek 
TTTurtivrj.      Cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  18.  74  (Indi),  maxime  oryza  gaudent  ex 
qua  tisanam  conficiunt,  quam  reliqui  mortales  ex  hordeo. 

156.  quanti  ergo:  well,  how  much?         octussibus  :  eight  asses; 
used  of  an  indefinite  small  number  ;  cf.  octonos,  i.  6.  75,  and  the  note. 

157.  furtis  .  .  .  rapinis  :   because  so  high  a  price  seems  to  him 
robbery. 


266  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  57. 

158.  non  stultus  :  to  be  taken  together ;  no  fool. 

160.  continuo :  forthwith. 

161.  cardiacus ;  dyspeptic,  i.e.  troubled  with  heartburn.         Cra- 
tenim  :  a  celebrated  physician  of  Cicero's  time  ;  cf.  Cic.  ad  Att.  xii. 
14.  4,  de  Attica  doleo ;  credo  tamen  Cratero. 

162.  recte  est :    sc.  ei.      A  colloquial  construction ;   see  above, 
bene  erat,  ii.  2.  120,  and  Introd.  §  61.  a. 

163.  temptentur  :  subjunctive,  because  the  reason  of  Cratems  is 
given. 

164.  immolet  .  .  .  porcum  :  as  a  thank  offering ;  possibly  with 
a  reminiscence  of  the  custom  referred  to  in  Plant.  Men.  292  of  sacri- 
ficing a  pig  as  a  cure  for  insanity,  though  of  course  used  somewhat  dif- 
ferently here. 

166.  Antic^ram  :    to  be  cured  by  hellebore  ;  see  line  83  above. 
Cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  xxv.  52,  Drusum  .  .  .  constat  hoc  medicamento  liber- 
atum  comitiali  morbo  in  Anticyra  insula.     Ibi  enim  tutissime  sumitur. 
barathrone  :  barathro  +  ne,  into  a  pit;  of  throwing  away  money. 

167.  paratis :    what  you  have  acquired;  cf.  Odes,  i.  31.  17,  frui 
paratis,  Latoe,  dones. 

169.  antique  censu  :  according  to  the  old  standard  of  wealth  ;  cf. 
Odes,  ii.  15.  13,  privatus  illis  census  erat  brems.  Ablative  of  accord- 
ance, divisse  :  equivalent  to  divisisse,  though  perhaps  a  different 
formation  ;  cf.  surrexe,  i.  5.  91,  and  the  note. 

171.  talos  nucesque :    common  playthings ;    cf.  Suet.  Aug.  83, 
(Augustus)   animi  laxandi  causa  talis  ocellatisque  nucibus  ludebat 
cum  pueris  minutis. 

172.  sinu  laxo  :  i.e.  carelessly,  in  a  loose  fold  of  his  toga,  which 
served  as  a  pocket.        ludere  :  sc.  eis  (instrumental  ablative),  risk 
them  at  play. 

173.  tristem :  in  serious  wise. 

174.  discors :  of  different  kinds. 

175.  Nomentanum  :  cf.  i.  1.  102.        Cicutam  :  cf.  line  69  above. 

176.  divos  .  .  .  Penatis  :    cf.  Epist.  i.  7.  94,  per  genium,  dex- 
tramque  deosque  Penates  Obsecro  et  obtestor. 

178.  natura  coercet :  sc.  quo;  to  which  nature  limits  you;  cf.  i. 
1.  50,  quid  ref erat  intra  Naturae  finis  viventi. 

179.  titillet :  as  we  may  say,  tickle  your  fancy.        gloria:  i.e.  a 
desire  for  glory. 

180.  fueritve  :  note  the  position  of  -ve,  which  connects  aedilis  and 
praetor,  and  see  note  on  line  130  above. 


PAGE  58.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  267 

181.  praetor  :  used  of  the  corresponding  office  in  Venusia,  quat- 
tuor  vir  iure  dicundo  ;  cf.  i.  5.  34,  and  the  note.        intestabilis  :  lit. 
incapable  of  making  a  will,  or  of  bearing  witness  ;  here  in  the  general 
sense  of  infamous  in  the  eyes  of  inen  ;  while  sacer  means  accursed  in 
the  sight  of  the  gods.  ; 

182.  in  cicere,  etc.  :  i.e.  in  largesses  of  food  to  the  populace  ;  cf. 
Pers.  v.  177,  vigila  et  cicer  ingere  large  fiixanti  populo,  nostra  tit  Flo- 
ralia  possint  Aprici  meminisse  senes.         bona  .  .  .  perdas  :  waste 
your  substance. 

183.  latus  .   .  .  spatiere:  cut  a  swell;  cf.  Cic.  Acad.   ii.  127, 
erigimur,  latiores  fieri  videmur,  humana  despicimus.          aeneus  :  in 
bronze,  of  a  statue  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  1.  20,  te  Ponet  marmoream  sub  trabe 
citrea;  Cic.  Arch.  9.  22,  in  sepulcro  Scipionum  putatur  is  (Ennius)  esse 
constitutus  ex  marmore. 

184.  nudus  agris,  etc.  :  cf.  i.  2.  13,  dives  agris. 

185.  scilicet  .  .  .  tu  :    ironical  ;   that  YOU  forsooth.     Note  the 
emphasis  of  tu  and  its  position.         Agrippa  :  M.  Vipsanius  Agrippa 
was  aedile  in  33  B.C.,  when  he  distinguished  himself  both  by  the  mag- 
nificence of  his  public  works  and  by  the  splendor  of  his  games  and 
public  exhibitions. 

186.  astuta  .  .  .  leonem  :   another  allusion  to  the  fable  of  the 
Ass  in  the  Lion's  Skin  ;  cf.  i.  6.  22  ;  ii.  1.  64. 

187  ff.  Agamemnon's  crime,  inspired  by  ambition,  is  just  as  mad 
as  the  deed  of  Ajax.  The  scene  referred  to  is  at  the  end  of  the  Ajax 
of  Sophocles.  ne  quis  .  .  .  velit  :  modelled  on  the  formula  com- 
mon in  the  ancient  laws,  e.g.  the  Senatus  Consultum  de  Bacchanali- 
bus,  C.  I.  L.  i.  196  ;  Lindsay,  Handbook  of  Latin  Inscriptions,  xxxvii. 
The  perfect  infinitive  is  usual  in  the  formula. 

188.  plebeius:   since  I  am  one  of  the  common  people.      The 
speaker  is  doubtless  conceived  of  as  a  philosopher.        et  :  and  besides. 

189.  inulto  :  unpunished,  with  impunity  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  42,  catu- 
los  ferae  Celent  inultae. 

190.  maxime  reguna,  di  tibi  dent  :  modelled  on  Iliad,  i.  17  f.  :  — 


'  ArpelSai  re  KCU  &\\ot  evKv^fjades  'A%cuoi 
deol  doTev  'OAtf/xTrta  dd)/j.a.T 
i  Hpidfjaio  7r6\tv,  eD  5'  of/caS' 


192.  consulere  :  i.e.  to  question  you. 

193.  ab  Achille  secundus  :  next  after  Achilles,  i.e.  second  reckon- 


268  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  58. 

ing  from  Achilles,  a  common  use  of  db  ;  Plaut.  Pseud.  597,  septumas 
aedis  a  porta.  Aiax  was  regularly  so  ranked  by  the  Greek  poets. 

195.  gaudeat :  the  line  is  a  reminiscence  of  Iliad,  i.  255,  ^  KCV 
yrjd-/l(ra.i  Hpia/j.os  II/oid/ioi6  re  tr aides.  ut :  is  it  that?  iiihumato  : 
sc.  illo. 

197.  mille  ovium  :  the  only  case  of  the  use  of  mille  (singular)  as 
a  substantive  in  Horace  ;  the  construction  is  regular  in  Plautus,  and 
occasionally  occurs  in  Nepos  and  Cicero  ;  e.g.  Nep.  Milt.  5.  1,  ea 
(civitas')  mille  misit  militum.  insanus  .  .  .  dedit:  went  mad  and 
slew. 

199.  pro  vitula :  like  a  heifer ;  referring  to  the  sacrifice  of  Iphi- 
genia.    Agamemnon,  the  philosopher  says,  was  no  more  sane  than  Ajax. 

200.  mola  .  .  .  salsa :  meal  and  salt  were  sprinkled  on  the  heads 
of  victims  before  they  were  sacrificed. 

201.  rectum  animi  servas  cursum :  do  you  keep  your  senses; 
cf.  Soph.  fr.  555,  Nauck,  ets  6pdbv  0/jovets.        insanus  :  in  his  madness. 
quid  enim  :  why,  what? 

202.  abstinuit  vim  :  he  withheld  violence.     The  transitive  use  of 
abstinere  is  common  in  comedy  and  in  Cicero.     Horace  has  the  in- 
transitive use  with  the  genitive  in  Odes,  iii.  27.  69,  abstineto  irarum, 
and  iv.  9.  37 ;    elsewhere  the  ablative  (e.g.  Ars  Poet.  170,  379,  414). 
Caes.  B.  G.  vii.  14  has  the  intransitive  use  with  ab  and  the  ablative,  a 
mulieribus  atque  infantibus  abstinere ;  cf.  Tac.  Dial.  40,  se  abstinere 
a;  see  Gudeman,  ad  loc. 

203.  uxore  et  gnato  :  Tecmessa  and  Eurysaces. 

204.  non  ille  :    strongly  emphatic;    cf.  Odes,  iv.  9.  51,  non  ille 
timidus  perire.        ipsum  :  even  ;  though  he  was  his  enemy. 

205.  verum  :    but;  Agamemnon  tries  to  justify  himself.         ad- 
verso  litore :  ablative  of  association  with  haereo,  as  in  Odes,  i.  2.  9, 
Piscium  et  summa  genus  haesit  ulmo.     See  Introd.  §  41.  b. 

206.  prudens  :  purposely,  opposed  to  insanus. 

207.  nempe  tuo  :  but  with  your  own.        non  furiosus  :  sc.  sum. 

208.  alias  veris :    different  from  the  true ;  veris  is  ablative ;   cf, 
Epist.  i.  16.  20,  alium  sapiente  bonoque.        sceleris  .  .  .  permixtas : 
cf.  Catull.  64.  405,  malo  permixta  furore.      Tumultu  is  ablative  of 
association  ;  cf.  adverso  litore,  line  205  above. 

209.  commotus  :  of  unsound  mind,  the  opposite  of  stas  ammo,  in 
line  .213. 

210.  stultitia  ...   ira :    the  faults  of  Agamemnon  and  Ajax 
respectively. 


PAGE  59.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  269 

211.  desipit :  note  the  hyperbaton,  and  cf.  ii.  1.  60,  quisquis  erit 
vitae  scribam  color.    Desipit  is  emphasized  by  its  position. 

212.  prudens :    wittingly ;    cf.   line  206.        titulos :    glory,  lit. 
honorary   inscriptions  (see   note  on  i.  6.   17),  a  Roman  conception 
introduced  into  the   Homeric  scene.        inanis :    cf.  Lucr.    iii.   996, 
petere  imperium  quod  inane  'est. 

213.  stas  animo  :  cf.  commotus,  line  209.        tumidum  :  i.e.  with 
pride  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  3.  8,  regum  tumidas  minas. 

216.  Rufam   aut  Pusillam:    ' golden-hair,'   or   'little  darling.'1 
forti :  gallant,  a  conventional  epithet;  cf.  ii.  5.  64,  forti  nubetprocera 
Corano  filia  Nasicae. 

217.  interdicto  :  by  an  injunction;  cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  7.  22,  ut  quern 
ad  modum  nostro  more  male  rem  gerentibus  patribus  bonis  interdict 
solet,  sic  ilium  .  .  .  a  refamiliari  removerent  indices. 

218.  ad    sanos   abeat   tutela  propinquos:    the  words  of  the 
Twelve  Tables  on  the  subject  are  preserved  by  Cic.  de  Invent,  ii.  50. 
148,  si  furiosus  escit,  agnatum  gentiliumque  in  eo  pecuniaque  eius 
potestas  esto. 

219.  devovet :  as  Agamemnon  did  his  daughter  pro  vitula  (line 
199). 

220.  integer  animi :    cf.   integer  mentis,  line  65  above.         ne 
dixeris  :  see  note  on  ne  biberis,  ii.  2.  16.        ergo :  summing  up,  as 
in  line  158. 

222.  vitrea:  i.e.  glittering  and  perishable;  cf.  Publ.  Syr.  Sent. 
171,  Fortuna  vitrea  est:  turn  cum  splendet  frangitur. 

223.  circumtonuit :  of  the  noisy  rites  of  the  goddess.        gaudens 
.  .  .  cruentis:  delighting  in  deeds  of  blood.     Bellona  was  worshipped 
by  fanatics  who  gashed  themselves  with  knives. 

224.  mine  :  introducing  a  discussion  of  the  third  mark  of  insanity, 
luxurious  living.        Nomentanum  :  cf.  line  175  and  i.  1.  102. 

225.  vincet  .  .  .  ratio  :  cf.  i.  3.  115,  nee  vincet  ratio  hoc. 

226.  patrimoni :    inheritance,   genitive  of    definition   modifying 
mille  talenta. 

227.  edicit :  makes  proclamation.    Used  humorously,  as  in  ii.  2. 51. 

228.  Tusci  .  .  .  vici :  a  street  leading  from  the  Forum  toward 
the  Tiber.    It  was  frequented  by  all  sorts  of  low  characters ;  hence 
turba  impia. 

229.  scurris :  parasites,  who  make  a  living  by  their  buffoonery  ; 
cf.  i.  5. 52,  and  the  note.       fartor :  probably  a  sausage-maker.       Vela- 
bro :  a  street  between  the  vicus  Tuscus  and  the  Forum  Boarium,  fre- 


270  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  59. 

quented  by  dealers  in  provisions  of  all  sorts.  See  C.  I.  L.  vi.  967, 
negotiator  penoris  et  vinorum  de  Velabro.  macellum  :  a  general 
fish  and  meat  market ;  cf.  Ter.  Eun.  257,  ad  macellum  ubi  adventa- 
mus,  Concurrunt  laeti  mi  obviam  cuppedinarii  omnes,  Cetarii,  lami, 
coqui,  fartores,  piscatores. 

231.   verba  facit :  acts  as  spokesman. 

234.  ocreatus  :  in  leggings.        aprum  :  the  accusative  with  ceno 
is  quite  frequent  in  Plautus  and  in  Horace  ;  otherwise  it  occurs  occa- 
sionally only  in  post- Augustan  poetry.     See  Introd.  §  38.  a. 

235.  verris :  with  a  net ;  cf.  Sil.  Ital.  xiv.  262,  sen  silvis  sectare 
feras  sen  retibus  aequor  Verrere. 

236.  segnis  ego :  sc.  sum,  I  am  a  lazy  fellow. 

237.  deciens  :  sc.  centena  milia  (sestertium),  and  see  note  on  i. 
3.  15. 

239.  Aesopi :   a  celebrated  actor  of  the  time  of  Cicero.    Cicero 
uses  the  same  expression,  ad  Att.  xi.  15.  3,filius  Aesopi  me  excruciat. 
Metellae  :  perhaps  the  wife  of  P.  Cornelius  Lentulus  Spinther. 

240.  deciens  solidum  :  a  whole  million;  see  note  on  line  236. 
Solidum  agrees  with  deciens  taken  as  a  sum.     The  same  story  is  told 
of  Antony  and  Cleopatra  by  Plin.  N.  H.  ix.  58. 

242.  illud  idem  :  i.e.  deciens  solidum,  in  the  form  of  the  pearl. 

243.  Arri :  cf.  line  86  above.         nobile  :  ironical. 

244.  gemellum :   twins,  agreeing  with  par;  cf.  Epist.  i.  10.  3, 
cetera  paene  gemelli. 

245.  impenso  :  sc.  pretio.     Plin.  N.H.  x.  141,  tells  us  that  nightin- 
gales cost  six  thousand  sesterces  (about  $300)  apiece. 

246.  quorsum  :  for  utrovorsum,  which  way,  i.e.  to  the  side  where 
the  sane  men  stand,  or  to  the   other.         carbone:    i.e.  ut  insani. 
The  figure  is  derived  from  the  connection  of  white  with  good  luck, 
and  black  with  evil  ;  cf.  Epist.  ii.  2.  189,  vultu  mutabilis,  albus  et 
ater. 

247.  casas  :   toy-houses.     Cf.  Juv.  ix.  61,  rusticus  infans  Cum 
matre  et  casulis  et  collusore  catello  ;  Tib.  ii.  1.  24,  Ludet  et  ex  virgis 
construct  ante  casas.        plostello  :  a  little  cart,  diminutive  of  plos- 
trum,  the  colloquial  form  of  plaustrum.     See  Introd.  §  55.  b. 

248.  par  impar  :  i.e.  odd  or  even.     The  game  was  played  with 
nuts  ;  cf.  line  171  above. 

249.  barbatum  :  i.e.  a  grown-up  man.        amentia  verset:  sc. 
eum,  i.e.  he  would  be  the  victim  of  madness. 

250.  ratio  evincet :  cf.  line  225  above,  and  the  note. 


PAGE  60.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  271 

251.   utrumne  :  the  -ne  is  redundant  ;  cf.  uterne,  ii.  2.  107.          in 
pulvere  :  cf.  Iliad,  xv.  362  :  — 


6ffT   tirel  ofiv  T 

&\{/  afrris  <rvi>£xev€  TOffiv  Kal  -^epaiv  adtipuv. 


252.    ludas  opus  :  you  waste  your  time. 

254.  mutatus  :  i.e.  reformed.       Polemon  :  the  successor  of  Xe- 
nocrates  as  head  of  the  old  Academy,  formerly  a  dissipated  Athenian 
youth,  who  was  converted  to  temperance  by  hearing  a  discourse  of 
Xenocrates,  into  whose  lecture  hall  he  had  burst  on  returning  from  a 
drinking-bout.        insignia  morbi  :  signs  of  your  malady;  cf.  Quint. 
xi.  3.  14,  palliolum  sicut  fascias,  quibus  crura  vestiuntur,  et  focalia  et 
aurium  lig  amenta"  sola  excusare  potest  valetudo. 

255.  cubital  :   apparently  an  elbow-cushion  ;   cf.  Comm.  Cruq., 
cubitale  pulvillus  qui  cubito  cenantis  supponi  solebat.        potus  ille  : 
i.e.  Polemon. 

256.  furtim:  i.e.  when  he  thought  no  one  was  looking.        coro- 
nas :  the  garlands  which  he  had  worn  at  the  drinking-bout,  and  still 
had  on. 

257.  impransi  :  sober,  as  opposed  to  potus  in  line  255  ;  lit.  fasting. 

259.  catelle  :   little  cub,  a  humorous   term  of   endearment  ;   cf. 
Plaut.  Asin.  693,  die  igitur  med  aniticulam,  columbulam,  catellum. 

260.  qui  :   how  ;   cf.  line  108.         agit  :  the  original  quantity  of 
the  i  was  short  ;  it  is  used  as  long  after  the  analogy  of  verbs  which 
originally  had  a  long  final  syllable.     See  Introd.  §  57. 

262.  nee  nunc  :    with  this  whole  dialogue,  cf.  Ter.  Eun.  46  ff. 
The  same  passage  of  Terence  is  also  followed  by  Persius,  v.  161-174. 

263.  finire  dolores  :  i.e.  by  resisting  the  temptation. 

265.    servus  :   referring  to  Parmeno,  Phaedria's  slave.        quae 
res  :  a  thing  which,  referring  to  love. 

268.  tempestatis  .  .  .  ritu  mobilia  :  i.e.  almost  as  changeable 
as  the  weather. 

269.  caeca  sorte  :  opposed  to  ratione,  line  266.     For  the  meaning 
of  sorte,  see  i.  1.  1,  and  the  note. 

270.  reddere  certa  :  i.e.  to  reduce  to  rule  and  order. 

271.  insanire  .  .  .  ratione  modoque:   to  go  mad  by  rule  and 
method.    Palmer  compares  Shakespeare,  Hamlet,  ii.  2.  298,  "Though 
this  be  madness,  yet  there's  method  in  it." 

272.  Picenis  .  .  .  pomis  :   the  apples  of  Picenum  were  highly 


272  BOOK   II.     SERMO  3.  [PAGE  60. 

esteemed  ;  cf.  ii.  4.  7;  Juv.  xi.  74,  aemula  Picenis  et  odoris  mala 
recentis. 

273.  cameram   percusti:    if  a  lover  succeeded  in  snapping  an 
apple-seed  so  as  to  hit  the  ceiling,  it  was  regarded  as  a  sign  that  his 
love  was  returned  ;  cf.  our  Hallowe'en  customs.        penes  te  es:  i.e. 
are  you  in  your  senses  ? 

274.  balba :  lisping,  used  of  the  '  baby  talk  '  of  lovers.    See  note 
on  Balbinus,  i.  3.40.        feris:  lit.  strike;  cf.  Varro,  ap.  Diomedem, 
i.  420.  10  K.,  (vox)  fit  vel  exilis  aurae  pulsu  vel  verberati  aeris  ictu. 

275.  aedificante  casas:  cf.  line  247  above.         qui:  how  much? 
cruorem  :  of  murderous  acts  inspired  by  love. 

276.  ignem  gladio  scrutare:    an  example  of  folly.    See  Athe- 
naeus,  X.   425,   '  irvp  ^.a-^aLpq.  /J.TJ  (T/caAetfeiJ''  avrl  TOV  reOvfj-wfi^vov  avdpa 
/J.T]    tpidalveiv  '    irvp  yap  6  6v/j.6s,   i}   d'   e/ns  fj.dxa.ipa.  '       modo  :   i.e.   as 
lately  happened  ;  with  reference  to  the  following  instance. 

277.  praecipitat  se  :  throws  himself  headlong,  either  in  Tiberim 
or  from  some  high  place.     The  word  is  used  absolutely,  without  a 
conscious  ellipsis  ;  cf.  Livy,  xxxiii.  19.  6,  et  praecipitasse  quosdam  non 
tolerantes  famem  constabat. 

278.  cerritus  :  crazy ;  apparently  connected  with  Cerrus,  a  mascu- 
line form  of  Ceres.         commotae,  mentis  :  cf.  commotus,  line  209. 

279.  absolves  :  with  crimine  expressed,  instead  of  the  genitive  of 
the  charge.     See  B.  App.,  §  327.         sceleris:  genitive  of  the  charge. 

280.  ex  more:  i.e.  as  people  usually  do.        cognata  :  kindred, 
i.e.  of  nearly  the  same  meaning. 

281.  libertinus  :  see  note  on  libcrta,  i.  1.  99.        compita  :  cross- 
roads,  where  the  shrines  of  the    Lares    Compitales    were    located. 
siccus  :  fasting,  which,  like  lautis  manibus  esse,  was  required  under 
the  circumstances. 

283.  quid  tarn  magnum  :  sc.  est  quod  vos  oro ;  i.e.  what  I  ask  is 
not  so  very  great  a  thing.        unum  :  repeated  for  emphasis. 

284.  dis  .  .  .  facile  est :  a  Homeric  reminiscence ;  cf.  Odyss.  v. 
25,  TyXtfj-axov  8t  <rv  ir^p^ov  €Trt.aTantvus,  Mvaaai  yap. 

285.  nisi  litigiosus  :  sc.  esset,  unless  he  were  fond  of  lawsuits,  for 
one  would  surely  follow  for  misrepresentation  ;  cf.  Varr.  E.  Jl.  ii.  10.  5, 
in  (servorum)  emptione  solet  stipulatio  intercedere  sanum  eum  esse, 
furtis  noxisque  solutum ;  cf.  also  Epist.  ii.  2.  2-19. 

286.  exciperet :  would  except,  from  his  guarantee.        hoc  .  .  . 
volgus  :  the  expression  implies  that  there  were  many  such  people. 

287.  Meneni :  an  unknown  madman. 


PAGE  61.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  3.  273 

289.  cubantis :  sick  abed ;  cf.  i.  9.  18. 

290.  quartana :   sc.  febris,   the  quartan  ague,   occurring  every 
fourth  day,  according  to  the  Roman  method  of  inclusive  reckoning. 

291.  die  .  .  .  ieiunia :  Thursday,  the  day  of  Jupiter ;  the  refer- 
ence is  to  the  Jewish  rites,  to  which  the  anxious  mother  resorts ;  cf. 
Juv.  vi.  522  (of  a  superstitious  woman),  Hibernum  fracta  glade  de- 
scendat  in  amnem,   Ter  matutino  Tiberi  mergetur,  et  ipsis  Verticibus 
timidum  caput  abluet. 

292.  levarit :  see  note  on  triverit,  i.  1.  45. 

293.  ex  praecipiti :  from  the  crisis;  cf.  Celsus,  iii.  18,  praeceps 
periculum. 

295.  quone  :  cf.  utrumne,  line  251  above  ;  uterne,  ii.  2.  107. 

296.  sapientum  octavus :   i.e.  an  addition  to  the  Seven  Wise 
Men  of  Greece  ;  cf.  Juv.  ii.  40,  tertius  e  caelo  cecidit  Cato. 

297.  compellarer  :  be  abused;  i.e.  called  insane. 

298.  totidem :  sc.  verba,  shall  hear  as  much,  i.e.  the  same. 

299.  pendentia  tergo  :  cf.  line  53  above  ;  or  perhaps  with  refer- 
ence to  the  two  sacks ;  see  note  on  i.  3.  69 ;  and  cf.   Phaedrus,  iv. 
10,  Peros  imposuit  luppiter  nobis  duos :  Propriis  repletum  vitiis  post 
tergum  dedit,  Alienis  ante  pectus  suspendit  gravem. 

300.  sic  vendas  :  the  regular  formula  in  wishes,  usually  followed 
by  an  w£-clause,  e.g.  ut  dicis  qua  stultitia  .  .  .  putes,  but  here,  by  a 
kind  of  anacoluthon,  by  a  direct  question  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  3.  If.,  where 
jussive  subjunctives  follow.        pluris  :  sc.  quam  emeris ;  genitive  of 
price. 

301.  qua  stultitia :  on  account  of  what  folly  ? 

303.  abscisum:  cut  off.  Pentheus  was  torn  to  pieces  by  his 
mother  Agave  and  the  other  Bacchantes,  because  he  despised  the 
power  of  Dionysus. 

305.  liceat:  let  it  be  allowed  me,  i.e.  without  shame. 

306.  tantum  .  .  .  edissere :  only  explain. 

308.  aedificas :  probably  on  his  Sabine  Farm.  longos  imi- 
taris  :  you  are  imitating  the  great;  the  word  longos  is  chosen  with 
reference  to  Horace's  short  stature  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  20.  24. 

310.  corpore  maiorem  :  too  great  for  his  body  ;  corpore  is  abla- 
tive of  comparison.  Turbonis :  according  to  Porphyrio,  a  gladia- 
tor of  small  size  but  of  great  courage. 

312.  verum :  just,  reasonable  ;  sc.  facere.     Cf.   Epist.  i.  7.  98, 
^fetiri  se  quemque  suo  modulo  ac  pede  verum  est. 

313.  tantum  dissimilem  :  cf.  ii.  5.  92  ;  Epist.  i.  10.  3. 


274  BOOK   II.     SERMO  4.  [PAGE  61. 

314.    absentis  ranae  :   another  allusion  to  the  Aesopian  fables. 
pullis :  the  young. 

317.  quantane  :  cf.  quone,  line  295  ;  utrumne,  line  251. 

318.  num  tanto  :  sc.  magnafuit,  not  so  big  as  this? 

320.  abludit :  a  aira£  eiprj^vov,  equivalent  to  abhorret. 

321.  oleum  .   .   .   camino :    a  proverbial  expression,   from  the 
Greek. 

322.  sanus  :  poetic  inspiration  is  regarded  as  akin  to  madness  ;  cf. 
Ars  Poet.  296. 

323.  horrendam  rabiem :    one  of   Horace's  besetting  sins ;   cf. 
Odes,  iii.  9.  23  ;  Epist.  i.  20.  25.     As  Kiessling  remarks,  it  is  a  happy 
touch  that  the  mention  of  it  here  makes  the  poet  finally  lose  patience, 
and  break  out  with  desine.        cultum  maiorem  censu :  a  style  of 
living  beyond  your  means;  see  note  on  censum,  ii.  1.  75. 

324.  teneas  .  .  .  tuis  te  :  mind  your  own  business,  more  literally, 
'keep  to  your  own  affairs.'     Tuis  is  instrumental  ablative;  cf.  Caes. 
B.  C.  i.  40,  castris  se  tenebat. 

326.   maior  .  .  .  insane:    greater  —  madman!     Insane  has  the 
same  effect  as  bonorum,  i.  1.  79  ;  minora,  i.  3.  20  ;  where  see  notes. 

SERMO   IV. 

1.  unde  et  quo  :  sc.  venis  and  tendis;  a  common  formula  of 
salutation  ;  cf.  i.  9.  62.         Catius :  otherwise  unknown.     Porphyrio's 
identification  with  a  writer  on  the  Epicurean  philosophy,  mentioned  by 
Cic.  ad  Fam.  xv.  16.  1,  and  Quint,  x.   1.  124,  is  very  improbable. 
aventi  :  i.e.  though  I  should  like  to. 

2.  ponere  signa  :  i.e.  commit  them  to  writing. 

3.  Anyti  reum  :   Socrates.    Anytus  was  the  most  prominent  of 
his  accusers. 

4.  peccatum  :  my  fault.        sic  :  i.e.  as  I  have  done  ;  to  be  taken 
with  interpellarem.        laevo  :   unfavorable ;  cf.  the  opposite  dextro 
tempore,  ii.  1.  18. 

5.  bonus:  i.e.  be  a  good  fellow,  and. 

6.  inter ci derit :  i.e.  slips  your  memory. 

7.  hoc;   i.e.  the  power  of  memory.        naturae  sive  artis:  i.e. 
natural  or  acquired  ;  cf.  Auct.  ad  Her.  iii.  3.  16,  sunt  duae  memoriae, 
una  naturalis,  altera  artificiosa. 

8.  quin :   nay.      Catius  says  that  his  memory  is  the  result  of 
training. 


PAGE  64.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  4.  275 

9.  tenui  :  equivalent  to  subtili. 

10.  homiiiis  :  the  man,  who  invented  the  system. 

11.  memor  :  from  memory. 

12.  ovis :  as  a  dinner  began  with  eggs  (cf.  i.  3.  7,  note),  bene  ab 
ovis  incipit,  as  the  Comm.  Cruq.  says. 

13.  suci :   flavor.          magis   alba:    whiter;   with  reference,  of 
course,  to  the  inside. 

14.  ponere  :  to  serve;  cf.  ii.  2.  23, posito pavone.        callosa  :  i.e. 
they  are  firm  and.     Cf.   Plin.  N.  H.  x.  145,  quae  oblonga  sint  ova 
gratioris  saporis  putat  Horatius  Flaccus. 

15.  suburbano  :  grown  near  the  city  in  the  well-watered  gardens 
(contrasted  with  sleds')  ;    cf.    Plin.  N.  H.  xix.  138.        cole:  umor 
fimusque  si  defuere,  maior  saporis  gratia  est ;  si  abundavere,  laetior 
fertilitas. 

16.  elutius:  more  insipid  ;  lit.  washed-out.        horto  :  used  for  the 
products  of  the  garden. 

17.  oppresserit :  i.e.  takes  you  by  surprise. 

18.  malum  :  adverb.         dura  :  tough. 

19.  doctus  eris  :  i.e.  you  will  do  well. 

20.  pratensibus  :  i.e.  which  grow  in  the  meadows,  opposed  to  the 
woods. 

22.  prandia  :  his  luncheon.  The  prandium  was  the  first  sub- 
stantial meal  of  the  day,  taken  in  the  middle  of  the  forenoon.  It 
corresponded  to  the  French  dejeuner  a  la  fourchette. 

24.  mella  Falerno  :   for  the  mulsum,  taken  at  the  beginning  of 
the  meal ;  hence  the  reason  which  follows.     See  note  on  ii.   2.  15. 
Falerno  is  ablative  of  association  ;  see  Introd.  §  41.  b. 

25.  vacuis  venis  :  i.e.  an  empty  stomach. 

29.  brevis:  short-leaved. 

30.  nascentes  .  .  .  lunae:  i.  e.  the  best  shell-fish  are  taken  at  the 
time  of  the  full  moon;  cf.  Lucil.  1062  L.,  Luna  alit  ostrea  et  inplet 
echinos,  Muribus  fibras  et  pecui  addit. 

31.  generosae:  i.e.  the  best. 

34.  molle  Tarentum :   so  called  on  account  of  the  luxury  and 
effeminacy  of  its  people. 

35.  cenarum  .  .  .  artem :  the  art  of  giving  banquets ;    cf.  Ter. 
Andr.  30,  Quid  est,  Quod  tibi  mea  ars  efficere  hoc  possit  amplius?  The 
term  ars  was  applied  not  only  to  professions  but  to  trades  ;  e.g.  ars 
coquina,  figlina,  etc. 


276  BOOK  II.     SERMO  4.  [PAGE  64. 

36.  exacta :  mastered;  cf.  Ovid,  Fasti,  iii.  637,  non  habet  exactutn 
quid  agat,  she  does  not  clearly  know  what  to  do. 

37.  cara  .   .  .  mensa  :  i.e.  from  a  dear  fish-market.     The  mensa 
is  the  slab  on  which   the  fish  were  exposed  for  sale.        averrere : 
sweep  off;  doubtless  with  some  suggestion  of  the  force  of  verris,  ii.  3. 
239. 

38.  est:  the  indicative,   instead  of    the    usual    subjunctive,    an 
archaic,  and  perhaps  colloquial,  usage. 

39.  in  cubitum  .   .  .  reponet :  i.e.  will  soon  (iam)  eat  to  reple- 
tion and  sink  back  upon  his  elbow  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  27.  6,  impium  Lenite 
clamorem,  sodalis,  Et  cubito  remanete  presso. 

41.  curvat :  bends  by  its  weight.        inertem  :  insipid. 

42.  Cf.   Macaulay,   Battle    of  Lake  Regillus,    185,    "From    the 
Laurentian  jungle,  The  wild  hog's  reedy  home." 

43.  submittit:  supplies.        non  semper  edulis :  i.  e.  those  taken 
in  the  forest  are  sometimes  better. 

44.  sapiens  :  the  connoisseur.       armos  :  the  fore-quarters ;  cf.  ii. 
8.  89,  et  leporum  avolsos,  ut  multo  suavius,  armos. 

46.  nulli :  sc.  palato.        quaesita  :  with  concessive  force,  modify- 
ing both  natura  and  aetas. 

47.  promit :  produces. 

48.  satis  :  sc.  est ;  the  only  one  out  of  twenty-four  cases  in  Horace 
where  est  is  omitted  in  this  expression.     Kiessling  suggests  that  it  is 
a  parody  of  some  proverbial  expression  in  which  est  for  satis  est  oc- 
curred. 

50.  securus:  careless,  regardless. 

51.  Massica  :  a  Campanian  wine  of  the  third  quality,  according 
to  Pliny.     Of  the  Campanian  wines  in  general,  he  says  (N.  H.  xiv. 
136),  Campaniae  nobilissima  exposita  sub  dio  in  cadis  verberari  sole 
luna,  imbre,  ventis,  aptissimum  videtur. 

52.  crassi  :  roughness. 

53.  decedet  .  .  .  inimicus  :  i.e.  it  will  have  a  less  strong  odor; 
will  acquire  a  bouquet.         ilia  :  i.e.  Massica  vina.     Straining  through 
a  linen  cloth  cleared  the  wine,  but  took  away  the  flavor  as  well. 

55.  Surrentina  :  a  very  light  Campanian  wine  suited  to  invalids  ; 
cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  xiv.  64,  Tiberius  Caesar  dicebat  consensisse  medicos  ut 
nobilitatem  Surrentino  darent,  alioqui  esse  generosum  acetum,C.  Cae- 
sar, qui  successit  illi,  nobilem  vappam.     Mixing  it  with  the  lees  of 
Falernian  gave  it  strength  and  flavor. 

56.  limum  :  sediment.    The  wine  was  clarified  with  an  egg. 


PAGE  65.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  4.  277 

57.  quatenus :  inasmuch  as,  the  regular  meaning  of  the  word  in 
Horace  ;  cf.  i.  1.  64.        volvens  aliena:  i.e.  gathering  up  foreign  sub- 
stances. 

58.  marcentem  :  jaded,  from  excessive  drinking. 

59.  innatat:  i.e.  it  does  not  digest. 

60.  hillis  :  sausages,  diminutive  of  hira. 

61.  immorsus:    stimulated;    literally,    'bitten.'         quin  =  quin 
etiam;  nay  .    .  .  even. 

62.  fervent  adlata :  are  brought  smoking  hot. 

63.  duplicis  iuris  :  a  particular  kind  of  sauce,  made  by  boiling 
simplex  ius  and  adding  the  ingredients  named  in  lines  67-69. 

64.  dulci :  fresh. 

65.  muria:  brine,  in  which  fish  were  preserved. 

66.  Byzantia   orca:    i.e.   a  jar  of  pickled  fish;    the  Black  Sea 
abounded  in  tunny  fish,  of  which  Byzantium  was  one  of  the  principal 
ports  of  export.     Cf.  the  Greek  proverb,  tx&vs  els  'EXX^a-irovrov,  '  carry 
fish  to  the  Hellespont,'  and  see  note  on  i.  10.  34. 

67.  inferbuit :  has  been  boiled. 

68.  Corycio :   Corycus  was  a  mountain  in  Cilicia,  famous  for  its 
saffron.         stetit :  has  stood,  to  cool. 

69.  Venafranae  :  the  best  oil  came  from  Venafrum  in  Samnium  ; 
cf.  Odes,  ii.  6.  16. 

70.  Picenis  .  .  .  pomis  ;  cf.  ii.  3.  272,  and  the  note.        Tiburtia  : 
sc.  poma. 

71.  nam  :  used  elliptically,  like  KO.I  ydp  in  Greek  ;  and  I  call  your 
attention  to  this,  for.'       vennuncula  :  sc.uva.        ollis  :  for  pots,  i.e. 
for  preserving. 

73.  hanc  :  i.e.uvam.         faecem  .  .  .  allec  :  used  as  appetizers  ; 
cf.  ii.  8.  9  qualia  lassum  Pervellunt  stomachum,  siser,  allec,  faecula  Coa. 

74.  primus  .  .  .  invenior  :  I  am  found  to  be  the  first. 

75.  incretum :   from  incernere,  sift  on.        puris :  clean. 

76.  milia  terna  :  3000  sesterces  j  the  sum  is  used  of  an  indefinite 
large  number.     See  Introd.  §  50. 

77.  vagos:  roving;  i.e.  accustomed  to  range  the  seas.       urgere  : 
cramp. 

78.  unctis  .  .  .  dum  furta  ligurrit :  i.e.  made  greasy  because  he 
has  taken  something  from  a  dish  which  he  was  carrying. 

80.  veteri :  old  and  valuable.        limus  :  sediment.        adhaesit: 
perfect  of  adhaeresco,  and  so  equivalent  in  meaning  to  adhaeret. 

81.  vilibus  :  cheap;  note  the  emphatic  position. 


278  BOOK   II.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  65. 

82.  neglectis  :  ablative  absolute,  with  his  understood. 

83.  ten:    shortened  from   tene  ;    a  colloquial  form.         lapides 
varies  :  the  reference  is  to  a  mosaic  pavement,  composed  of  bits  of 
marble  of  different  colors.         radere  :  infinitive  in  an  exclamation  ; 
cf.  I  9.  73  ;  Introd.  §  46.  b. 

84.  Tyrias  .  .  .  vestis:    governed  by  circum  ;    note  the  anas- 
trophe,  which  is  common  with  dissyllabic  prepositions.        toralia  : 
coverings  of  white  linen  which  were  thrown  over  the  purple  couches 
to  keep  them  clean.    The  toralia  could  be  washed,  hence  there  was  no 
excuse  for  using  soiled  ones. 

86.  haec  :  these  details,  of  neatness.  tanto  reprehend!  iustius  : 
i.e.  their  neglect  is  more  blameworthy  than  the  absence  of  splendid 
pavements  and  Tyrian  coverlets  would  be. 

89.   auditum  :  to  hear  ;  supine. 

91.  interpres  :  as  a  reporter  of  the  teachings  of  his  master. 
adde  :  add  to  this.  That  is,  to  see  the  man  would  enhance  the  effect 
of  his  words. 

95.  Apparently  a  parody  of  Lucr.  i.  927,  iuvat  integros  accedere 
fontes  Atque  haurire. 

SERMO  V. 

1.  Tiresia  :  a  famous  Theban  seer.  He  is  supposed  to  continue 
his  conversation  with  Odysseus  at  the  point  where  it  is  concluded  in 
Odyssey,  xi.  149.  petenti  :  sc.  responsum  ;  cf.  Carm.  Saec.  55,  iam 
Scythae  responsa  petunt. 

3.  quid  rides?    cf.  i.  1.  69.     The  seer  smiles  at  the  greed  of 
Odysseus.        iamne  :  is  it  no  longer,  when  he  is  assured  of  his  safe 
return.        doloso  :  the  man  of  guile,  as  if  he  were  referring  to  a  third 
person  ;  doloso  translates  the  Greek  iro\iJTpoirov  or  iro\vfji^xavoy-     Of- 
Liv.  Andr.  ap.  Gell.  xviii.  9.  5,  Virum  mihi,  Camena,  insece  versutum. 

4.  patriosque  penatis  :  these  words  introduce  a  Roman  color 
into  the  language  of  Odysseus. 

5.  nulli  .  .  .  mentite  :  cf.  Soph.  Oed.  Tyr.  299,  y 


6.  redeam  :  am  returning  ;  the  future  would  be  expressed  by 
rediturus  sim. 

7.  apotheca:  store-house;  often  'wine-vault'  ;  Italian,  bottega; 
Spanish,  bodega  ;  French,  boutique.        procis  :  the  suitors  of  Penel- 
ope, who  had  flocked  to  Ithaca  during  the  absence  of  Ulysses. 


PAGE  67.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  5.  279 

8.  re  —  re  familiari,  money  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  1.  66.        vilior  alga  :  a 
proverbial  expression ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  17.  10,  alga  inutili ;  Virg.  Eel.  7. 
42,  proiecta  vilior  alga.    It  is  especially  appropriate  as  applied  to  the 
seafaring  Odysseus. 

9.  quando  =  quando  quidem.         missis  ambagibus  :    in  plain 
language. 

10.  turdus :  the  thrush  or  fieldfare  was  greatly  prized  as  a  deli- 
cacy ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  15.  40  ;  Mart.  xiii.  92,  Inter  aves  turdus,  si  quid  me 
iudice  certum  est  Inter  quadrupedes  mattea  prima  lupus. 

11.  privum  :  as  your  own,  like  propriumj  cf.  Lucil.  21  L.,  Ad 
cenam  adducam  et  primum  hisce  abdomina  thunni  Advenientibus  priva 
dabo  cephalaeaque  Acharnae.        dabitur  :  with  conditional  force,  if 
a  thrush  shall  be  given  you  ;  the  paratactic  use.        devolet :  let  it  fly 
away  ;  appropriately  used  of  a  bird. 

12.  nitet :  flourishes  ;  of  a  well-kept  property  ;  cf.  ii.  2. 127,  quanta 
aut  ego  parcius  aut  vos,  Opueri,  nituistis. 

13.  honores  :  cf.  Odes,  i.  17.  16,  runs  honorum. 

14.  ante  Larem  :  the  first  fruits  were  commonly  offered  to  the 
Lar  Familiaris,  the  guardian  spirit  of  the  house. 

15.  erit :   indicative,  as  in  ii.    2.    29,    quamvis  distat  nil.      See 
Introd.  §  45.  b.        sine  gente :  as  a  runaway  slave  (fugitivus) ,  he  was 
filius  nullius.     See  note  on  i.  5.  54. 

17.  comes  exterior :    as  his  companion  walking  on  his  left. 
Since  weapons  were  carried  in  the  right  hand,  the  left  was  the  unpro- 
tected side  ;  hence  to  walk  on  one's  left  was  a  mark  of  honor ;  cf. 
Suet.  Claud.  24,  et  in  Capitolium  eunti  et  inde  rursus  revertenti  latus 
texit  (Plautio}. 

18.  utne :  introducing  an  indignant  question  ;  what!  shall  If    Cf. 
i.  10. 21,  quine  putetis.        Damae  :  a  common  slave-name  ;  cf.  i.  6.  38. 
Troiae :  before  Troy. 

19.  melioribus  :   dative  with  a  verb  of  contending ;  see  Introd. 
§  39.  a.     Cf.  Epod.  2.  20,  certantem  et  uvam  purpurae  and  Virg.  Eel. 
5.  8,  tibi  certat  Amyntas.        ergo  :  well  then. 

20.  fortem  .  .  .  animum :    a  parody   of  the   Homeric 
hoc  :  this  disgrace. 

21.  maiora  tuli  :  cf.  Odyss.  xx.  18,  r£r\a0t  5f;,  Kpadtrj  •  Kal 

pOV  &\\0  TTOT    €T\TJ$. 

22.  ruam  :   rake  up;  apparently  uniting  the  meaning  of   corruo 
and  eruo  ('dig  up');  cf.  Lucil.  901  L,  ruis  hue  et  colligis  omnia 
furtim. 


280  BOOK  II.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  67. 

23.   dixi  :  said  impatiently,  referring  to  lines  10-17.  captes: 

the  usual  word,  whence  legacy -hunters  were  called  captatorcs ;    it 
naturally  leads  up  to  the  following  metaphor. 

25.  praeroso  hamo :  after  nibbling  the  bait  from  the  end  of  the 
hook.     Lucian,  Tim.  18,  uses  the  same  metaphor ;  cf.  Mart.  vi.  63.  5, 
Munera  magna  quidem  misit  sed  misit  in  hamo. 

26.  artem :   the  profession;  cf.  Sen.  de  Ben.  vi.  38,  qui  captan- 
dorum  testamentorum  artem  prof essi  sunt ;  see  note  on  ii.  4.  35. 

27.  foro  :    in  the  forum,  for  the  prose  construction  in  foro ;  cf. 
mansuri  oppidulo,  i.  5.  87.         res:  case;  cf.  i.  9.  41.         olim :  at 
any  time;  see  note  on  i.  1.  25. 

28.  improbus :  though  he  be  a  scoundrel.        ultro  :  actually,  i.e. 
without  just  cause,  when  he  ought  himself  to  be  arraigned  ;  cf.  Liv.  i. 
5.  3,  latrones  .  .  .  ultro  accusantes. 

30.    priorem  =  meliorem. 

32.  Quinte  :  to  address  one  by  one's  praenomen  was  a  sign  of  fa- 
miliarity and  affection.  puta:  for  example;  i.e.  supposing  that  to 
be  his  name.  The  last  syllable  is  short.  molles  :  sensitive  ;  cf.  Ter. 
Heaut.  402,  ut  patrem  tuom  vidi  esse  habitum,  diu  etiam  duras  dabit 
(aures)  ;  mollis  is  also  used  as  a  general  epithet  of  the  ear,  in  Catull. 
25.  2,  mollior  .  .  .  imula  oricilla  ;  Pers.  i.  107,  teneras  .  .  .  auriculas. 

34.  ius  anceps  :  cf.  vafriiuris,  ii.  2.  131. 

35.  oculos  :  a  general  term  for  what  is  dearest  to  a  man  ;  cf.  our 
expression,  'the  apple  of  one's  eye'  ;  Catull.  14.  1,  Ni  te plus  oculis 
meis  amarem  ;  also  with  the  passage  in  general,  cf.  Plaut.  Pseud.  510, 
eclidito  mihi  ocuhim,  si  dedero. 

36.  contemptum    .    .   .    pauperet :    for  contemnat  et  pauperet, 
bring  contempt  on  you  and  rob  you.    Paupero  belongs  to  the  language 
of  everyday  life  ;  cf.  Plaut.  fr.  ap.  Non.  157.  7,  quam  ego  tanta  pauper- 
am  per  dolum  pecunia.        cassa  nuce  :  an  empty  nut ;  also  colloquial, 
cf.  Plaut.  Pseud.  510,  Ten  amatorem  esse  inventuminanem  quasi  cassam 
nucem. 

37.  sis  iocus :  be  a  laughing  stock  ;  cf.  contemptum,  line  36. 

38.  pelliculam  :  his  precious  hide.     Note  the  force  of  the  diminu- 
tive.    The  usual  expression  is  cutem  curare;  cf.  Epist.  i.  2.  29;  i.  4. 
15.     Cf.  also  Juv.  x.  192  (of  an  old  man),  deformem  pro  cute  pellem. 
ii  cognitor : .  be  his  advocate ;   cf.  Gains,  iv.  97,  cum  enim  certis  et 
quasi  sollemnibus  verbis  in  locum  domini  substituatiir,  cognitor  merito 
domini  loco  habetur. 

39.  persta  :  cf.  i.  9.  39.         seu  rubra,  etc. :  apparently  a  hit  at 


PAGE  68.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  5.  281 

some  verses  of  Furius  Bibaculus  (cf.  i.  10.  36),  of  which  one  is  known 
from  Quint,  viii.  6.  17,  luppiter  hibernas  cana  nive  conspuat  Alpes. 
Here  Furius  is  substituted  for  luppiter.  The  color  of  the  Dog  Star  is 
now  a  greenish  blue,  a  sign  of  old  age  in  stars  ;  it  was  apparently  red 
in  ancient  times ;  cf.  Sen.  Nat.  Quaest.  i.  1.  7,  cum  in  caelo  quoque 
non  unus  appareat  color  rerum,  sed  acrior  sit  Caniculae  rubore,  Martis 
remissior. 

40.  infantis:  dumb;  cf.  Epist.  ii.  2.  83,  statua  taciturnius  ;  infans 
has  its  literal  meaning,  as  in  i.  6.  57,  infans  pudor.  pingui  tentus 
omaso  :  stuffed  with  greasy  tripe. 

42.  cubito  .  .  .  tangens  :  nudging  his  neighbor. 

43.  patiens:  sc.  laboris,  and  cf.  lines  39-41. 

44.  thunni :  the  same  metaphor  as  in  line  25.          cetaria  :  either 
weirs,  in  which  the  fish  were   caught  (cf.  Plin.   N.   H.   xxxvii.    66 
cetarias),  or  the  same  as  vivaria  (Epist.  i.  1.  79),  in  which  fish  were 
kept  alive  until  wanted  for  the  table.     The  word  cetarium  occurs  only 
here. 

45.  re:  sc.  familiaris ;  cf.  line  8  above. 

46.  sublatus  aletur :  shall  be  taken  up  and  reared.     A  sickly 
child  might  be  exposed  for  death  ;  it  was  placed  before  the  father,  who 
took  it  up  if  he  wished  it  reared  (hence  sublatus}. 

47.  caelibis  :  objective  genitive.     For  fear  that  open  devotion  to 
a  childless  man  may  be  seen  through,  the  will-hunter  is  advised  to  pay 
court  also  (praeterea)  to  a  man  with  one  sickly  heir.         nudet :  i.e. 
deprive  you  of  your  prize.        leniter  :  craftily,  slyly,  contrasted  with 
manifestum,  line  46.        spem  :  sc.  hereditatis. 

48.  arrepe  officiosus :  work  your  way  by  your  attentions.     The 
?^-clause  is  probably  best  taken  with  spem.         secundus  heres  :  i.e. 
hefr  to  the  estate  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  the  son  ;  cf.  Tac.  Ann.  i. 
8,  Augusti  testamentum  Tiberium  et  Liviam  heredes  habuit :  in  spem 
secundam  nepotes  pronepotesque,  tertio  gradu  primores  civitatis  scrip- 
serat. 

49.  Oreo  :  dative  of  the  goal  or  end  of  motion. 

50.  in  vacuum  :  a  legal  term. 

51.  qui  .  .  .  cumque  :  tmesis ;  see  Introd.  §  53.  o.        legendum  : 
to  show  that  he  has  been  remembered  in  the  will. 

53.  sic  tamen :  but  in  such  a  way.  limis  :  sc.  oculis :  '  out  of 
the  tail  of  your  eye ' ;  cf.  Plaut.  Mil.  1217,  Aspicito  limis,  ne  ille  nos  se 
sentiat  videre.  Apparently  colloquial.  prima  cera  :  the  first  page 
of  the  tablets  on  which  the  will  was  written.  secundo  .  .  .  versu  : 


282  BOOK  II.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  68. 

the  second  line,  which  generally  contained  the  name  of  the  heir,  while 
the  testator's  name  appeared  in  the  first. 

54.  velit :  says;  more  lit.  'means.'        solus:  sole  heir;  heres  ex 
asse. 

55.  plerumque  :   very  often;  cf.  i.  10.  15.  recoctus:   made 
over,  with  reference  to  the  story  of  Medea  and  Aeson. 

56.  quinqueviro :  a  very  low  official,  a  sort  of  policeman.        cor- 
vum  :  with  reference  to  the  fable  of  the  Fox  and  the  Crow  ;  cf.  Phaed. 
i.  13. 

57.  Nasica  Corano  :  an  incident  of  Horace's  own  day,  detailed 
below  (64  f.),  which  Tiresias  tells  in  the  form  of  a  prophecy. 

58.  prudens :  purposely. 

59.  quicquid  .  .  .  non :   a  parody  of  divination.     It  is  cited  by 
Boethius,  Cons.  v.  3,  as  a  ridiculum  vaticinium. 

60.  donat:  present,    because  the   inspiration  is  still   continued, 
although  the  action  of  the  verb  is  itself  past ;  cf.  Verg.  Aen.  ix.  266, 
Cratera  antiquum,  quern  dat  Sidonia  Dido. 

61.  tamen  :  yet,  or  yes,  but.        si  licet :  if  it  be  laivful. 

62.  iuvenis  :   Octavian ;  born  B.C.  63.  ab  alto  .  .  .  Aenea : 
cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  288,  lulius  a  magno  demissum  nomen  lulo  ;  vi.  500, 
genus  alto  a  sanguine  Teucri ;  alto  contains  the  idea  both  of  antiquity 
and  nobility. 

63.  genus :  a  scion.     Used  also  of  a  single  person  in  Odes,  i.  3. 
27  ;  Serm.  i.  6.  12.        tellure  marique :  a  variation  of  the  common 
expression  terra  marique,  perhaps  for  mock-heroic  effect.    See  note  on 
i.  5.  3. 

64.  forti :  gallant,  apparently  a  stock  epithet  for  a  bridegroom ; 
cf.  ii.  3.  216,  forti  marito  ;  here  used  ironically. 

65.  metuentis  :  with  the  force  of  nolentis;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  2.  7,penna 
metuente  solvi.        soldum  :  Ms  debts,  strictly  the  principal ;  or  per- 
haps in  the  sense  of  pay  in  full.     For  the  syncopated  form,  cf.  i.  3.  53. 

66.  tabulas :  sc.  testamenti ;  cf.  line  52. 

67.  multum  :  with  the  force  of  saepe  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  25.  5 ;  Epist.  i. 
3.  15  ;  Ars  Poet.  357. 

69.  legatum  :  left  as  a  legacy,  to  be  paid  by  the  heir  to  the  estate 
(legare  ab  aliquo').        plorare  :  governed  by  the  preposition  praeter; 
cf.  Cic.  de  Fin.  ii.  13.  43,  inter  optime  valere  et  gravissime  aegrotare 
nihil  iriteresse ;  and  see  Introd.  §  46.  d. 

70.  ad  haec  :  besides,  like  praeterea  in  line  45.       mulier  dolosa : 
probably  a  freedwoman  mistress ;  cf.  i.  1.  99. 


PAGE  69.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  5.  283 

71.  delirum  :  cf.  ii.  3.  107,  delirus  et  amens  Undique  dicatur 
merito.  temperet:  control,'  cf.  Odes,  i.  8.  7,  temperat  orafrenis. 

73.  vincit  longe  :  it  is  a  far  better  plan,      prius  :  first.      ipsum 
.  .  .  caput :  the  citadel,  i.e.  the  old  man  himself. 

74.  scribet :  paratactic  construction  for  si  scribet.     So  erit.     Cf. 
Mart.  xii.  40,  Mentiris :  credo  ;  recitas  mala  carmina :   laudo.        ve- 
cors :  of  intellectual  qualities ;  cf.  ii.  3.  67,  excors. 

76.  facilis :  compliantly.  potiori :  for  utpote  potiori,  as  to 
your  superior.  putasne  .  .  .  poterit :  parataxis,  instead  of  the 
infinitive  in  indirect  discourse ;  cf.  Plaut.  Hud.  1269,  Censen  hodie 
despondebit  earn  mihi,  quaeso. 

79.  enim  :  yes  indeed,  for.  donandi  parca  :  for  the  construc- 
tion, cf.parcus  aceti,  ii.  2.  62  ;  and  in  general,  Odyss.  xviii.  275  ff. 

81.  sic  :  under  such  conditions ;  cf.  i.  10.  5,  nam  sic  Laberi  mimos 
mirer.  tibi  :  your;  ethical  dative.  quae:  for  at  ea  ;  cf.  i.  1.  36. 
uno  :  because  an  old  man  in  love  would  give  more  gifts  than  many 
young  suitors. 

83.  canis  a  corio  :   with  reference  to  a  Greek  proverb,  Alciphron 
iii.  47,  ou5e  yap  KIJUV  ffKVTOTpayetv  fiadovira  rijs  T^xvrjs  ^7TiA^<reTcu  ;   cf. 
Theocr.  10.  11,  xaXeTroi/  %O/H'W  /ctfra  yev<rai. 

84.  me  sene  :  when  I  was  an  old  man,  i.e.  still  on  earth  ;  a  jesting 
variation  of  the  usual  me  iuvene,  me  puero,  etc.        iniproba :  mali- 
cious, because  she  enjoyed  in  advance  the  discomfiture  of  the  heir. 
Thebis :  the  home  of  Tiresias. 

85.  ex  testamento  :  cf.  Petron.  143,  omnes  qui  in  testamento  meo 
legata  habent  praeter  libertos  meos,  hac  condicione  percipient  quae  dedi, 
si  corpus  meum  in  partes  conciderint  et  astante  populo  comederint. 
est  elata :  the  regular  term  for  carrying  out  a  corpse  for  burial. 

87.  si  posset :  subjunctive  in  an  indirect  question  ;  (because  she 
wished  to  see)  if  she  could.  The  ellipsis  is  colloquial.  mortua : 
after  death. 

89.  operae  :  dative,  as  in  i.  9.  56,  hand  mihi  dero.        abundes  : 
sc.  opera. 

90.  difficilem  et  morosum  :  cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  18.  65,  sunt  morosi 
et  anxii  et  iracundi  et  difficiles  senes.       garrulus  :  cf.  i.  9.  33.       ultra 
.  .  .  sileas  :  don't  be  too  silent  either.     Non  is  here  used  for  ne,  a 
rare  but  undeniable  use.      Ultra  =  ultra  quam  satis  sit. 

91.  Davus  comicus  :   like  Davus  in  the  play.      Cf.  personatus 
pater,  i.  4.  56  ;  and  i.  10.  40,  Davo  Chremeta  eludente,  with  the  note. 

92.  capite  obstipo  :  with  bowed  head;  cf.  Pers.  iii.  80,  obstipo 


284  BOOK  II.     SERMO  5.  [PAGE  69. 

capite  et  fingentes  lumine  terrain.       multum  :  modifying  similis ;  cf. 
ii.  3.  147  ;  Epist.  i.  10.  3. 

93.  grassare  :    make  your  advances  ;    frequentative  of  gradior. 
increbruit :  freshens. 

94.  velet :  with  the  hood  of  the  lacerna  {cf.  ii.  7.  65),  or  with  a 
fold  of  his  toga. 

95.  aurem  substringe:  i.e.  gather  up  your  ear  with  your  hand, 
so  as  not  to  lose  a  single  word.        loquaci  :  if  he  is  inclined  to  talk. 

96.  inportunus  amat :  paratactic ;  if  he  has  an  insatiate  desire. 
ohe  iam  :  hold,  enough  ;  cf.  i.  5.  12,  ohe,  iam  satis  est. 

97.  urge  :  ply  him  with  flattery. 

98.  infla :  cf.  Cic.  de  Domo,  11.  29,  desinant  aliquando  me  isdem 
inflare  verbis. 

99.  levarit :  by  his  death. 

100.  certum:  sharply,  the  opposite  of  incertum  vigilans,  Ovid, 
Her.  10.  9. 

101.  ergo:  so  then;  cf.  Odes,i.  24.  5,  ergo  Quintilium  perpetuus 
sopor  Urget! 

102.  unde  :  for  the  construction,  sc.  quaeram,  or  a  verb  of  similar 
meaning,  although  there  is  no  conscious  ellipsis;  cf.  ii.  7.  116  ;  Epist. 
i.  5.  12.        fortem  .  .  .  fidelem  :  with  these  adjectives,  cf.  spurco  in 
line  18. 

103.  sparge  :  as  one  would  scatter  flowers.        subinde  :  at  once, 
a  meaning  not  found  before  the  Augustan  age.        est :   it  is  worth 
something,  i.e.  it  is  better  than  nothing. 

105.  arbitrio  :   cf.  ii.  3.  86,  arbitrio  Arri.         sine  sordibus : 
without  meanness ;  cf.  i.  6.  107,  sordes. 

106.  vicinia :  the  neighbors ;  the  abstract  for  the  concrete ;  cf. 
Epist.  i.  16.  44  ;  i.  17.  62. 

107.  male  tussiet :  has  a  bad  cough;  i.e.  is  in  consumption  ;  cf. 
tussis,  i.  9.  32. 

108.  ex  parte  tua  :  sc.  hereditatis.        sit :  he  would  like  to  be. 

109.  nummo  :  for  a  song.     It  was  really  a  free  gift ;  but  the  form 
of  a  sale  was  gone  through.     Cf.  Gaius,  ii.  252,  olim  in  usu  erat  ei,  cui 
restituebatur  hereditas,  nummo  unoeam  hereditatem  dicis  causa  venire, 
and  our  expression  '  in  consideration  of  one  dollar,'  etc.        addicere  : 
a  term  used  of  auctioneers,  to  knock  down. 

110.  imperiosa:    imperious;    her    command    must  be  obeyed. 
trahit :  summons  me  back  to  the  shades.        vive  valeque :  a  com- 
mon formula  of  farewell ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  6.  67. 


PAGE  71.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  6.  285 


SERMO   VI. 

1.  hoc  :    referring  to  what  follows,  which  has  reference  to  his 
Sabine  farm.        in  votia :  among  my  prayers. 

2.  iugis :    ever-flowing;   probably  to  be  taken  with  aquae;  cf. 
Epist.  i.  15.  16,  iugis  aquae. 

3.  super  his  :  above  these,  i.e.  on  the  slope  of  the  hill ;  cf.  i.  5.  51, 
super  Caudi  cauponas.        foret :   this  form  is  not  found  in  Caesar. 
Cicero  uses  it  only  in  his  letters  to  Atticus,  always  in  a  future  sense ; 
and  de  Hep.  ii.   12.  24.     Subjunctive  of  characteristic.        auctius  : 
more  generously. 

4.  melius  :  since  it  was  the  gift  of  his  friend  Maecenas.        bene 
est :  it  is  well. 

5.  Maia  nate :  Mercury,  as  god  of  gain  ;  cf.  ii.  3. 68.        propria  : 
my  own  forever;   cf.  Epist.  i.  17.  5.        faxis  :  the  old  aorist  optative 
fac-s-i-s,  used  with  the  force  of  a  perfect  subjunctive. 

6.  ratione  mala  :   by  evil  means,  i.e.  by  dishonesty.        rem  :  sc. 
familiar  em ;  cf.  ii.  3.  18. 

7.  vitio  culpave:    by  dissipation  (cf.  ii.  2.  21,  pinguem  vitiis)  or 
neglect. 

8.  veneror:  pray  for ;  cf.  Cic.  ad  Fam.  vi.  7.  2,  qui  multa  deos 
venerati  sint ;  Carm.  Saec.  49.          stultus:   from  the  philosophical 
point  of  view,  opposed  to  sapiens.        si :  introducing  a  wish  ;  really 
a  protasis,  with  the  apodosis  suppressed.     This  use  seems  to  be  con- 
fined to  the  Augustan  Poets. 

9.  denormat :  spoils  the  regularity  of,  a  technical  term  ;  cf.  denor- 
mata  linea,  Agrimensores,  i.  345.  20. 

10.  urnam  argenti  :  i.e.  a  pot  of  coins,  buried  by  some  one,  as  in 
the  Aulularia  of  Plautus.        quae  :  some,  for  aliqua,  on  account  of 
si.     Note  the  hyperbaton. 

11.  mercennarius  :  for  cum  mercennarius  esset. 

12.  ilium  ipsum  :    i.e.  the  very  field  which  he  had  formerly 
ploughed  as  a  hireling.        mercatus  aravit :    bought  and  ploughed. 
amico  Hercule  :   the  story  is  told  by  Porphyrio.     Hercules  was  the 
god  who  gave  gain,  especially  in  the  form  of  hidden  treasure,  and  a 
tithe  of  the  gain  was  given  to  him.     Cf.  Plaut.  Bacch.  665,  Si  fru- 
gist,  Herculem  fecit  ex  patre :  Decumarn  partem  ei  dedit,  sibi  novem 
abstulit. 

13.  gratum  :  sc.  me. 

14.  pingue  :    agreeing  with  pecus  and  ingenium  with  a  double 


286  BOOK  II.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  71. 

meaning.     So  we  speak  of  'fat-witted'  people.     Cf.  ii.  2.  3,  crassa 
Minerva. 

16.  mentis  :   the  Sabine  Hills.        in  arcem  :  my  stronghold,  as 
situated  in  the  mountains,  and  as  a  refuge  from  the  cares  of  the  city. 

17.  prius  :  rather,  i.e.  than  the  delights  of  country  life ;  lit.  before  ; 
cf.  Odes,  i.  12.  13,  Q u id  prius  dicam  solitis parentis  Laudibus?      satu- 
ris  :  here  used  as  the  general  word  for  this  kind  of  writing,  including 
the  Sermones  and  Epistulae ;  see  Introd.  §  24  ;  and  on  the  orthog- 
raphy, Introd.  §  14.        musa  pedestri  :  my  prosaic  muse  ;  cf.  Epist. 
ii.  1.  250,  sermones  repentis  per  humum. 

18.  mala  ambitio :   referring  to  tit esome  social  duties,  the  neces- 
sity of  paying  visits  and  the  like  ;  cf.  i.  6. 100  ff.       plumbeus  Auster : 
the  sirocco,  an  oppressive  wind,  hence  the  epithet  plumbeus. 

19.  Libitinae :    referring  to  Venus  Libitina,   in  whose  temple 
funeral  equipments  seem  to  have  been  kept.        quaestus :  a  source 
of  gain,  since  the  equipments  were  probably  rented,  and  the  proceeds 
went  to  the  shrine. 

20.  Matutine  pater :  an  ancient  Italian  god  of  the  early  morning, 
here  identical  with  Janus,  the  god  of  beginnings.        lane  :    the  voca- 
tive used  in  place  of  the  object ;  cf.  Prop.  i.  18.  31,  resonent  mihi 
4  Cynthia '  silvae  ;  see  Introd.  §  37. 

21.  unde  :   for  a  quo  ;  cf.  i.  6.  12.        operum  primes  vitaeque 
labores:  the  first  labors  of  their  daily  life;  in  operum  vitaeque  we 
have  hendiadys. 

22.  sic  dis  placitum:  so  the  gods  have  willed  it,  i.e.  that  Janus 
should  have  this  function. 

23.  Having  begun  with  an  invocation  to  Janus,  as  god  of  begin- 
nings, Horace  is  thus  led  to  speak  of  the  early  morning  duties  at 
Rome.        Romae  :  when  I  am  at  Rome.        sponsorem  :  as  a  surety, 
i.e.  to  give  bail  for  some  friend.        rapis:  i.e.  hurry  me  into  court; 
cf.  i.  9.  77,  rapit  in  ius.        Heia  :   Horace's  thought,  represented  as 
an  admonition  of  the  god. 

24.  prior  :  sc.  te.        officio  :  the  call  of  duty. 

25.  Aquilo  :  the  cold  north  wind,  the  Tramontana. 

26.  interiore  .  .  .  gyro :   a  narrower  circle,  in  which  the  sun 
appears  to  travel  in  winter.        trahit :  drags,  as  if  the  day  resisted  its 
curtailing ;  cf.  ii.  5.  110,  me  Imperiosa  trahit  Proserpina. 

27.  mi  obsit :  would  be  to  my  disadvantage,  in  case  his  friend  fails 
to  appear  in  court,  and  he  has  to  pay  the  forfeit.     Potential  subjunctive. 
locuto  :  sc.  mihi,  dative  of  the  apparent  agent  with  luctandum. 


PAGE  72.]  BOOK  II.    SERMO  6.  287 

28.  luctandum:    i.e.  he  had  to  rash  off  to  some  other  duty,  a 
morning  call  or  something  similar.        tardis  :   i.e.  people  who  were 
going  leisurely  about  their  business. 

29.  quid  via:    what  do  you  mean?      Cf.  ii.  5.53,   quid  prima 
secundo  Cera  velit  versu.        improbus  :   a  violent,  hot-tempered  fel- 
low, whom  Horace  has  jostled  in  his  haste ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  9.  22,  improbo 
Hadria. 

30.  precibus  :  curses  ;  cf.  Epod.  5.  86,  Thyesteas  preces.      pulses 
...  si  recurras  :  sarcastic ;   of  course  you  would  knock  over  every- 
thing in  your  way,  if  you  should  be  hurrying  back  to  Maecenas. 

31.  ad  Maecenatem  :  said  spitefully,  and  with  a  touch  of  envy. 
memori  mente  :  i.e.  thinking  of  nothing  but  him. 

32.  hoc:    i.e.  to  be  taunted  with  his  intimacy  with  Maecenas, 
atras :  dark,  gloomy,  because  of  the  use  to  which  it  had  formerly  been 
put ;  cf.  i.  8.  19  ff.,  and  the  Outline  of  i.  8. 

33.  aliena  negotia  :  commissions  for  other  people. 

34.  secundam  :  sc.  horam  ;  about  7  o'clock. 

35.  sibi  adesses  :   i.e.  in  court ;   cf.  i.  9.  38,  paulum  hie  ades. 
Puteal:    sc.   Libonis,  a  place  in  the  Forum  which  had  been  struck 
by  lightning,  and  then  surrounded  by  a  low  wall  or  curbing,  as  sacred. 
The  praetor's  tribunal  was  near  by. 

36.  scribae :   Horace,  as  having  been  a  government  clerk,  is  still 
regarded  as  a  member  of  the  guild. 

37.  Quinte  :  the  praenomen  used  in  familiar  address  ;  cf.  ii.  5.  32, 
and  the  note.        reverti :  i.e.  to  the  quaestor's  office,  in  the  Forum, 
which  he  had  just  left. 

38.  imprimat  .  .  .  signa :  sign  and  seal.     Pliny,  N.  H.  xxxvii. 
10,  tells  us  that  Maecenas's  seal  bore  a  frog  as  its  device. 

39.  dixeris :  with  conditional  force ;  cf.  scribet,  ii.  5.  74. 

42.  dumtaxat  ad  hoc:    merely  to  this  extent;  taxat  is  an  old 
aorist  subjunctive  of  tango,  and  the  phrase  originally  meant  'provided 
it  touches,'  or  'reaches  to.'         quern  :  as  one  whom;  subjunctive  of 
characteristic.         tollere  raeda :    i.e.  'give  a  lift.'    For  raeda,  see 
note  on  i.  5.  86. 

43.  iter  faciens  :  e.g.  on  the  journey  to  Brundisium,  described  in 
i.  5,  or  on  shorter  excursions  in  the  vicinity  of  Rome. 

44.  hoc  genus  :    of  this   kind ;  really  in  apposition  with  nugas. 
See  Introd.  §  38.  c.       Thraex :  the  Thracians  were  a  class  of  gladiators, 
so  called  on  account  of  their  armor,  which  consisted  of  a  round  shield 
and  a  short  curved  sword  or  dagger.    The  spelling  Thraex  or  Threx  is 


288  BOOK   II.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  72. 

the  one  found  in  gladiatorial  inscriptions.  Gallina  :  the  Chicken,  a 
nickname.  Syro :  the  name  of  a  gladiator,  probably  a  mirmillo, 
since  they  were  commonly  matched  against  the  Thracians.  These 
were  armed  in  the  Gallic  fashion,  with  heavy  armor  and  a  large  shield. 
Their  crest  was  a  fish  Oo/ycAos) ,  whence  the  name,  mirmillo. 

45.  iam  .  .  .  mordent :  are  beginning  to  nip;  cf.  Hamlet,  i.  4.  1, 
"The  air  bites  shrewdly,  it  is  very  cold." 

46.  rimosa  .  .  .  aure  :   a  leaky  (i.e.  indiscreet)   ear,'   cf.    Ter. 
Eun.  105,  Plenus  rimarum  sum,  hac  atque  iliac  perfluo.     For  the  op- 
posite, see  Odes,  i.  27.  18.        deponuntur :  often  used  of  secrets ;  see 
Odes,  i.  27.  18,  depone  tutis  auribus. 

48.  noster  :  our  friend,  meaning  himself ;  cf.  i.  9.  47,  hunc  homi- 
nem  ;  and  see  Introd.  §  55.  o.        spectaverat .  .  .  luserat :  with  con- 
ditional force  ;  the  subject  is  noster. 

49.  omnes  :  sc.  aiunt. 

50.  frigidus  :  terrifying.        per  compita  :  around  the  street  cor- 
ners, where  the  people  would  be  gathered  together. 

51.  consulit :  stronger  than  interrogat,  asks  my  advice,  consults 
me.        O  bone  :  my  good  fellow. 

52.  deos  :  the  gods,  referring  to  Maecenas  and  the  court  generally. 
propius  contingis  :  associate  more  intimately  with,  come  into  closer 
association  with,  i.e.  than  others. 

53.  numquid  .  .  .  audisti :    you  haven't  heard  anything,   have 
you  f        Dacis  :  the  Dacians  had  taken  the  part  of  Antony,  and  war 
was  declared  against  them  in  30  B.C.     In  31  B.C.,  when  the  Satire  was 
written,  an  invasion  was  feared.        ut  .  .  .  eris  :  how  you  will  per- 
sist in  making  fun  ;  cf.  ii.  8.  62,  ut  semper  gaudes  inludere  rebus  Hu- 
manis. 

55.  si  quicquam :  sc.  audivi.  militibus  promissa  .  .  .  prae- 
dia  :  of  an  allotment  of  land  to  the  veterans,  which  had  been  promised 
by  Augustus.  Triquetra:  Sicilian,  modifying  tellure,  the  island 
being  so  called  from  its  triangular  shape.  Cf.  Lucr.  i.  717,  Insula 
quern  triquetris  terrarum  gessit  in  oris. 

57.  unum  .  .  .  mortalem :  the  man  of  all  men.  Cf.  Catull.  22. 
10,  unus  caprimulgus. 

59.  haec  inter :  in  such  trifling  as  this.  With  the  anastrophe,  cf. 
Epod.  2.  38.  misero  :  sc.  mi  hi ;  for  poor  me  ;  dative  of  reference. 

61.  veterum :  the  writers  of  earlier  days;  cf.  ii.  3.  11-12. 
somno :  the  mid-day  siesta,  for  which  there  was  not  always  time  in 
the  city. 


PAGE  73.]  BOOK  II.    SERMO  6.  289 

62.  ducere :  to  quaff;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi.  714,  Lethaei  ad  fluminis 
undam  Securos  latices  et  longa  oblivia  potant. 

63.  Pythagorae   cognata :    Pythagoras    forbade    the   eating  of 
beans,  because   they  were  said  to   contain  the   souls  of  the  dead. 
Hence  Horace  in  jest  calls  them  the  kindred  of  Pythagoras.        simul- 
que  :  and  served  with  it. 

64.  satis  :  sufficiently,  without  oil.        holuscula  :  cabbage;  note 
the  diminutive,  and  see  Introd.  §  55.  e. 

65.  cenaeque  deum  :  feasts  fit  for  the  gods.        meique  :  equiva- 
lent to  cum  meis ;  sc.  amicis. 

66.  Larem  :  hearth,  beside  which  was  the  altar  of  the  Lar  Fami- 
liaris.        vernas  procacis :  the  saucy  house-slaves,  whose  forward- 
ness was  proverbial;  cf.  Mart.  i.  41.  1,  Urbanus  tibi,  Caecili,  videris. 
Non  es,  crede  mihi.     Quid  ergo  ?     Verna. 

67.  pasco :  cf.  Sen.  Epist.  77.  8,  cena  peracta  reliquiae  circum- 
stantibus    dimdantur.          libatis :     only    partly    eaten,    lit.    tasted. 
prout :  here  pronounced  in  one  syllable  by  synizesis.     See  Introd.  §  57. 

68.  inaequalis  calices :  i.e.  either  acria  or  modica  pocula ;  see 
below,  lines  69-70. 

69.  legibus  insanis :  such  as  would  be  imposed  by  a  magister  bi- 
bendi;  cf.  Odes,  i.  4.  18;    Serm.  ii.  2.  123.        capit :   carries,  holds, 
i.e.  is  able  to  stand  ;  cf.  Plaut.  Cure.  103,  Quantillum  sitit  ?  Modicast, 
capit  quadrantal. 

70.  laetius:  i.e.  takes  more  pleasure  in.        ergo:  accordingly, 
i.e.  the  conversation  corresponds  with  the  nature  of  the  meal. 

72.  Lepoa  :  a  dancer  of  the  day,  who  appeared  in  pantomimes. 

73.  agitamus:  discuss;  cf.  i.  4.  138,  haec  ego  mecum  Compressis 
agito  labris.        utrumne  :  cf.  ii.  3.  295,  and  the  note. 

75.  usus  rectumne :  self-interest  or  virtue.    The  former  was  the 
doctrine  of  the  Epicureans,  the  latter  that  of  the  Stoics. 

76.  summumque  .  .  .  eius  :  i.e.  the  summum  bonum. 

77.  Cervius  :  a  neighbor  of  Horace's.     The  name  may  very  likely 
be  one  of  the  made-up  names,  typical  of  old  age.     Cf.  Juvenal's  ex- 
pression, cervina  senectus,  xiv.  251,  which  was  proverbial.        haec 
inter  :  i.e.  during  the  intervals  of  this  conversation.     Note  the  anas- 
trophe,  common  with  dissyllabic  prepositions,  and  cf.  line  59  above. 
anilis  .  .  .  fabellas  :    old-wives'  tales.     Cervius  is  a  man  abnormis 
sapiens  crassaque  Minerva,  like  Ofellus  in  ii.  2,  who   in   place  of 
learned  arguments  tells  plain  and  simple,  but  pointed,  stories  ex  re,  i.e. 
apropos,  to  the  point. 


290  BOOK  II.     SERMO  6.  [PAGE  73. 

78.  Arelli  :  some  rich  and  miserly  neighbor.    The  name  is  perhaps 
made  from  the  root  of  aridus. 

79.  ignarus  :   i.e.  foolishly,  not  knowing  that  they  are  sollicitas. 
Note  the  juxtaposition  of  ignarus  and  sollicitas.         olim :  once  upon 
a  time,  the  regular  way  of  beginning  a  story. 

81.  veterem    .   .   .   amicum  :  i.e.  old  friends,  guest  and  host. 

82.  attentus  quaesitis :    i.e.  careful  of  what  he  had  stored  up. 
ut  tamen  :  i.e.  not  so  much  so  that  he  could  not. 

83.  quid  multa  :  sc.  dicam ;  to  make  a  long  story  short. 

84.  sepositi  :  set  aside,  for  special  occasions.         longae  :  appar- 
ently of  the  shape  of  the  grain.     The  genitive  with  nee  invidit  is  after 
the  analogy  of  that  with  verbs  of  plenty  and  want. 

86.  fastidia :  lack  of  appetite,  the  regular  term  ;  cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  viii. 
52  (of  the  lion),  aegritudinem  fastidii  tantum  sentit. 

87.  tangentis  .  .  .  superbo  :   the  fastidiousness  of  the  guest  is 
vividly  pictured. 

88.  pater  .  .  .  domus  :  the  master  of  the  house ;  for  obvious  rea- 
sons used  instead  of  pater  familias  ;  cf.  cenae pater,  ii.  8.  .7. 

89.  esset:  ate. 

90.  ad  hunc  :  does  not  belong  directly  with  inquit ;  perhaps  con- 
versus  is  to  be  supplied. 

91.  patientem  :  enduring  hardship. 

92.  vis  tu :  won't  you,  an  exhortation,  while  mn  tu  (i.  9.  69)  is 
merely  interrogative. 

93.  mihi  crede  :  take  my  advice,  trust  me.       terrestria  quando  : 
etc.  :  the  Epicurean  doctrine. 

94.  sortita  ;  allotted  by  fate. 

95.  quo  .  .  .  circa  :  note  the  tmesis,  and  see  Introd.  §  53.  o. 

96.  dum  licet :  a  common  Horatian  expression  ;  cf.   Odes,  ii.  11. 
16  ;  iv.  12.  26  ;  Epist.  i.  11.  20.        beatus  :  rich  and  happy;  cf.  Odes, 
i.  4.  14.  beate  Sesti. 

97.  aevi  brevis  :  genitive  of  quality  ;  the  expression  is  the  oppo- 
site of  the  adjective  longaevus. 

98.  pepulere :  struck,  i.e.  struck  the  fancy  of,  influenced.      levis: 
light-heartedly,  gladly. 

100.  nocturni  :  by  night.         iamque  tenebat,  etc. :  a  parody  of 
the  epic  style  ;  cf.  i.  5.  3,  and  the  note. 

103.  canderet :  blazed.     Characteristic  subjunctive. 

104.  fercula  :  courses,  really  the  trays  on  which  they  are  served. 

105.  procul :  near  by.        hestema  :  i.e.  from  yesterday's  feast. 


PAGE  75.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  7.  291 

107.  veluti  succinctus  :  i.e.  as  if  he  were  a  waiter  ;  cf.  ii.  8.  10, 
puer  alte  cinctus. 

108.  continuatque  dapes  :  i.e.  serves  one  course  after  the  other, 
without  intermission.          nee  non:    and  also;  litotes;    see  Introd. 
§  53.  k.        verniliter  :  like   a  v erna,  whose   impudence  and    greed 
were  proverbial  (see  note  on  line  66)  ;   he  cannot  resist  tasting  the 
dainties  himself ;    cf.   ii.  4.   78,   sen  puer  unctis    Tractavit  calicem 
manibus  dum  furta  ligurrit.        ipsis  .  .  .  officiis  :  i.e.  the  duties  of 
a  waiter. 

110.  bonis  rebus  :  ablative  modifying  laetum. 

111.  agit :  plays  the  part  of. 

112.  valvarum  strepitus :  the  clanging  of  the  folding  doors,  as 
the  servants  come  in  the  early  morning  to  clean  up  the  room. 

114.  Molossis  .  .  .  canibus :    the  Molossian  hounds  were  cele- 
brated for  their  great  size  and  watchfulness.     Molossus  is  often  used 
as  a  substantive,  with  ellipsis  of  canis.     Cf.  Epod.  6.  5,  Molossus  aut 
fulvus  Lacon. 

115.  baud  .  .  .  est  opus  :  I  don't  care  for  ;  lit.  I  have  no  need  of; 
cf.  our  slang  expression,  '  I  have  no  use  for.' 

116.  valeas  :  good-bye,  in  place  of  the  usual  vale. 


SERMO  VII. 

1.  iamdudum  ausculto :  I  have  been  listening  for  a  long  time, 
i.e.  waiting  to  be  sure  that  his  master  was  not  busy. 

2.  reformido  :  /  shrink  from  so  doing,  knowing  his  master's  hot 
temper.        Davusne  :  is  it  Davus?    Horace  does  not  look  up,  but  he 
thinks  he  recognizes  the  voice.        ita  :  sc.  est;  yes. 

3.  frugi  quod  sit  satis  :  honest  enough. 

4.  ut  vitale  putes  :  i.e.  he  is  not  so  good  that  his  master  need  fear 
that  he  will  be  short-lived ;  with  reference  to  the  proverb  that  the 
good  die  young.     Cf.  Sen.  Contr.  i.  1.  22  (Cestius  Pius)  aiebat  tarn 
immature  magnum  ingenium  non  esse  vitale.      libertate  Decembri  : 
i.e.  the  freedom  allowed  at  the  time  of  the  Saturnalia  ;  cf,  ii.  3.  5,  and 
the  note. 

5.  narra  :  speak;  cf.  ii.  5.  l,praeter  narrata. 

6.  gaudet  constanter :  persists  in  taking  pleasure.        urget  pro- 
positum  :  stick  to  their  purpose. 

7.  pars  multa:  cf.  Odes,  iii.  30.  6,  multa  pars  mei ;  Serm.  i.  1.61, 
bona  pars  hominum,  with  the  note.        natat :  i.e.  drift  to  and  fro  with 


292  BOOK  II.     SERMO  7.  [PAGE  75. 

the  current ;  cf.  Sen.  Epist.  35.  4,  mutatio  voluntatis  indicat  animum 
natare.  modo  .  .  .  interdum  :  cf.  i.  9.  9,  modo  ire  ocius,  interdum 
consistere  ;  i.  10.  12,  modo  rhetoris  atque  poetae,  interdum  urbani. 

8.  notatus :  conspicuous,  with  some  idea  of  censure  ;  cf.  i.  6.  14, 
notante  iudice  .  .  .  populo. 

9.  tribus  anellis  :  to  wear  more  than  a  single  ring  was  the  mark  of 
a  dandy.     Isid.  On'#.  xix.  32,  mentions  the  fact  that  Crassus  in  his  old 
age  wore  two  rings.       laeva  :  the  ring,  or  rings,  were  worn  on  the  left 
hand,  because  it  was  used  less  than  the  right ;  cf.  Ateius  Capito,  apud 
Macr.   Saturn,  vii.  13,  hinc  factus  est  ut  usus  anulorum  exemptus 
dexterae,  quae  multum  negotiorum  gerit,  in  laevam  relegaretur. 

10.  inaequalis,  ut :  i.e.  so  inconsistent  that ;  cf.  i.  1.  95,  and  the 
note.        clavum  ut  mutaret :  this  may  possibly  mean  that  he  ap- 
peared now  as  a  senator  with  the  broad  purple  stripe,  and  now  as  a 
simple  eques  with  the  narrow  one  ;  but  it  seems  more  likely  that  it- 
refers  to  changing  his  clothes  adorned  with  the  laticlave.     Cf.  Mart, 
v.  79,  Undecies  una  surrexti,  Zoile,  cena,  Et  mutata  tibi  est  synthesis 
undecies. 

11.  conderet :  governed  by  ut  in  line  10. 

12.  mundior  :  i.e.  of  the  better  class.          honeste  :  i.e.  with  self- 
respect. 

13.  doctus :  the  life  of  a  scholar ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  29,  doctarum 
frontium. 

14.  Vertumnis  .  .  .  iniquis :  born  under  the  displeasure  of  all 
the  Vertumni.     Vertumrms  was  the  god  of  the  changing  seasons  ;  cf. 
Prop.  iv.  2.     With  the  expression   Vertumnis  iniquis,  cf.   i.    5.  97, 
Lymphis  iratis,  and  the  note. 

15.  scurra:  buffoon,  parasite;  cf.  i.  5.  52,  and  Plaut.  Trin.  202, 
urbani  adsidui  cives,   quos  scurras  vocant.         iusta :    well-earned, 
by  his  gluttony.          cheragra:    gout  in  the  hand;  cf.  podagra,  i. 
9.32. 

16.  contudit  articulos :  cf.  Pers.  v.  58,  cum  lapidosa  cheragra 
Fregerit  articulos. 

17.  phimum :  dice-box,  the  Greek  0t/*6s,  from  which  the  tali  were 
thrown  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  4.  18.     In  this  way  Volanerius  kept  up  his  gam- 
bling even  after  he  was  crippled. 

18.  conductum  pavit :   hired  and  kept;  cf.  Juv.  iii.   141,  quot 
pascit  servos? 

19.  levius  miser :   bears  a  lighter  load  of  wretchedness,  i.e.  the 
consistently  bad  man  is  happier  than  one  whose  whole  existence  is  a 


PAGE  76.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  7.  293 

constant  wavering  between  good  and  evil.        ac  :  than.        prior  ille : 
i.e.  Priscus,  spoken  of  in  line  9. 

20.  contento  .  .  .  laxo  fune  :  the  figure  seems  to  be  that  of  an 
animal  tied  to  a  rope  which  alternately  allows  him  free  scope  and 
brings  him  up  with  a  jerk. 

21.  hodie  :  now,  used  as  in  the  language  of  every-day  life  and  of 
comedy.        putida  :  '  rot, '  stuff. 

22.  rurcifer :  gallows-bird,  a  common  epithet  of  slaves  in  comedy. 
ad  te  :  sc.  tendunt.        laudas  .  .  .  plebis :  cf.  ii.  2.  89-93. 

23.  idem  :  yet  you. 

24.  si  quis  deus  :  cf.  i.  1.  15.        usque  :  every  time. 

25.  rectius  esse  :  belongs  in  sense  both  with  sentis  and  with  quod 
clamas. 

26.  firmus  :  with  firm  purpose. 

27.  caeno  :  with  haeres  and  with  evellere.    The  figure  is  a  common 
one.     Cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  780,  in  eodem  luto  haesitas ;  Catull.  17.  25,  Et 
supinum  animum  in  gram  derelinquere  caeno. 

28.  absentem :    usually  applied  to  the  person,  but  here  to  the 
place  ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  11. 21,  Eomae  laudetur  Samos  absens.       rusticus  : 
when  you  are  in  the  country. 

29.  levis :  fickle  fellow  that  you  are.     With  the  general  sentiment, 
cf.  Epist.  i.  8.  12,  Homae  Tiburi  amem  ventosus,  Tibure  Homam. 

30.  securum  :  quiet,  i.e.  free  from  the  cares  of  a  formal  dinner 
party.        velut  .  .  .  vinctus  eas :  i.e.  like  an  unwilling  slave. 

31.  amas :  sc.  te,  you  hug  yourself;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  v.  163,  litus  ama. 

32.  potandum:   the  commissatio  at  the  end  was  an  important 
feature  of  a  dinner  party.          iusserit :    jussive   subjunctive  with 
force  of  a  proviso,  let  Maecenas  ask  you  to  dinner. 

33.  serum  sub  lumina  prima  :  i.e.  the  invitation  is  sent  at  the  last 
moment,   possibly  because  some  guest  had  excused  himself.     Sub 
lumina  prima  means  just  at  nightfall ;  the  time  would  vary  according 
to  the  season  of  the  year.     With  the  expression,  cf.  sub  galli  cantum, 
i.  1.  10. 

34.  oleum  :  for  the  lantern  with  which  a  slave  would  escort  him 
through  the  streets.     The  impatient  questions  show  his  eagerness  to 
accept  the  invitation,  and  his  changeable  nature.         fert :  the  collo- 
quial present  with  future  force  ;  see  Introd.  §  44.  a. 

35.  blateras :  you  bawl  out,  a  colloquial  word.     Festus  defines  it 
as  "stulte  et  percupide  loqui."        fugis :  you  tear  off,  like  a  runaway 
slave. 


294  BOOK   II.     SERMO  7.  [PAGE  76. 

36.  Mulvius  et  scurrae  :  persons  who  either  hoped  to  be  asked  to 
dinner  with  Horace,   or  perhaps  had  actually  been  asked.         non 
referenda  :  i.e.  language  that  won't  bear  repeating.         precati :  cf. 
iratis  precibus,  ii.  6.  30,  and  the  note. 

37.  ille  :  i.e.  Mulvius.        dixerit :   future  perfect  with  the  force 
of  a  future  of  instantaneous  action ;  he  will  say  at  once ;  i.e.  he  will 
freely  admit. 

38.  levem  :  weak.        nasum  supinor  :  /  throw  up  my  nose,  the 
better  to  sniff  the  savory  food.     Nasum  is  the  object  of  supinor  used  in 
a  middle  sense  ;  see  Introd.  §  38.  c. 

39.  si  quid  vis  :   if  you  like ;  quid  is  accusative  of  extent,  lit. 
*  at  all.' 

40.  ultro:  actually,  i.e.  are  you  to  have  the  assurance  to  ?    See  ii. 
5.  28.  and  the  note. 

41.  insectere  :  subjunctive  in  an  indignant  question.        verbis 
decoris  :  fine  words,  i.e.  he  alleges  his  duty  to  his  patron,  Maecenas. 

43.  quingentis  .  .  .  drachmis  :  500  drachmas,  or  2000  sesterces, 
about  $100.     This  was  a  low  price  (cf.  Epist.  ii.  2.  5),  and  shows 
Davus  to  be  a  slave  of  the  lowest  class.        aufer  .  .  .  terrere  :  cease 
to  terrify ;  the  infinitive  is  used  as  the  object  of  aufer;  see  Introd. 
§  46.  d. 

44.  stomachum :  cf.  Odes,  i.  6.  6,  gravem  Pelidae  stomachum. 
teneto :   the  simple  verb  for  the  compound  contineto  /  see  Introd. 
§  35.  b. 

45.  Crispini  :  see  i.  1.  120,  and  the  note. 

68.  evasti  :  paratactic  construction  for  si  evasti;  evasti  is  another 
form  for  evasisti.        credo  :    ironical,   of  course.        doctus  :    i.e. 
taught  by  experience. 

69.  quaeres:  i.e.  on  the  contrary,  you  will  seek.        quando  .  .  . 
paveas  :  another  opportunity  to  be  frightened  ;  the  subjunctive  has  a 
final  force. 

71.    prava :  perversely. 

73.  sapiens :  in  the  sense  of  prudens ;  i.e.  he  would  be  glad  to 
steal  silver,  but  he  doesn't  dare ;  and  he  ironically  claims  to  be  sapiens 
on  that  account. 

74.  vaga  :  used  proleptically,  i.e.  natura  prosiliet  et  vagabitur. 

76.  minor:     a   slave   to;    imperiis    is    ablative    of    comparison. 
vindicta :    the  rod  which  was  used  in  the  formal  manumission  of  a 
slave  before  the  praetor. 

77.  formidine  :  dread  of  his  master. 


PAGE  77.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  7.  295 

78.  super  :  for  insuper,  besides. 

79.  vicarius  :  the  slave  of  a  slave,  bought  with  his  savings  (pecu- 
1111111),  to  help  him  in  his  work. 

80.  vester :  i.e.  of  you  masters.        tibi  quid  sum  ego  :  the  im- 
plication is,  either  vicarius  or  conservus. 

82.  ut  .  .  .  lignum:    like  a  marionette  or  wooden  puppet,  by 
strings  worked  by  some  one  else. 

83.  sibi  imperiosus:  i.e.  qui  sibi  imperitat;  cf.  Stat.  Silv.  ii.  6. 
16,  cut  triste  nihil  qui  sponte   sibique  Imperiosus    erat,    cited    by 
Bentley. 

85.  responsare  :  defy;  intensive  of  respondere.    It  is  governed 
by  fortis  in  line  80. 

86.  in  se  ipso  totus :  i.e.  dependent  only  on  himself,  and  unaf- 
fected by  external  things ;  cf.  e.g.  Cic.  Paradoxa,  2.  17,  qui  est  totus 
aptus  ex  sese  quique  in  se  uno  sua  ponit  omnia.        teres  atque 
rotundus  :  like  a  sphere,  to  which  the  Stoics  compared  the  sapiens. 

87.  ne  .  .  .  morari  :  i.e.  that  nothing  from  without  may  be  able 
to  rest  on  it,  on  account  of  its  smooth  surface. 

88.  manca  :  powerless,  so  as  to  be  unable  to  injure  him. 

89.  his:  these  virtues,  of  the  sapiens.     For  Ms  =  his  rebus,  see 
Introd.  §  49.  b.        quid :  for  aliquid. 

90.  te  :  the  second  accusative  with  poscat. 

91.  gelida :  sc.  aqua.    Cf.  Juv.  v.  63,  Quando  rogatus  adest  calidae 
gelidaeque  minister  f    For  the  adjective  used  as  a  substantive,  see 
Introd.  §  49.  b. 

92.  non  quis  :  you  cannot. 

93.  dominus  :  the  figure  is  of  libido,  driving  the  man  as  one  would 
a  horse,  in  a  chariot. 

94.  stimulos :    the  goad.        versat:    turns  you  from  your  own 
way  to  the  course  he  wishes  to  take. 

95.  Pausiaca  :  of  Pausias,  a  famous  painter  of  Sicyon.     The  man 
who  has  a  craze  for  works  of  art  is  also  a  slave.        torpes :  have  a 
craze  for ;  cf.  stupet,  i.  4.  28. 

96.  Fulvi,  etc. :   names   of  gladiators.     The  last  is  taken  from 
Lucilius,  138  L. 

98.  rubrica  aut  carbone :  the  reference  is  to  posters  drawn  on 
the  walls  with  red  chalk  or  with  charcoal. 

100.  nequam  et  cessator:  a  good-for-nothing  and  an  idler, 
because  he  has  been  sent  on  some  errand,  but  wastes  his  time  staring 
at  the  posters. 


296  BOOK  II.     SERMO  7.  [PAGE  77. 

101.  veterum :  either  masculine,  of  the  old  masters,  or  neuter,  of 
ancient  works  of  art.        audis :  i.e.  are  called ;  cf.  ii.  6.  20,  si  lane 
libentius  audis. 

102.  nil:  good-for-nothing,  like  nequam  or  nihili.        libo:  cake; 
they  were  apparently  cooked  on  the  streets  in  the  sight  of  the  passers 
by.         tibi:  emphatic;  in  your  case;  dative  of  reference.         in- 
gens :  tremendous. 

103.  virtus  .  .  .  responsat :  the  emphasis  is  on  virtus  and  ani- 
mus;  it  is  character  and  intellect  which  appreciate;  i.e.  it  is  a  sign 
of  character  to  appreciate. 

105.  enim  :  it  is  true. 

106.  sumi  :  i.e.  emi. 

107.  inamarescunt :  turn  sour;  cf.  ii.  2.  75. 

108.  inlusi :    taken  off  their  guard  by  drunkenness ;    cf.  Plaut. 
Pseud.  1251,  (vinum}  pedes  captat  primum,  luctator  dolosust. 

109.  hie  .  .  .  qui  puer :  for  hie  puer  .  .  .  qui. 

110.  furtiva :  stolen.     Furtiva  strigili  is  ablative  of  association  ; 
cf.  Odes,  i.  17.  2,  Lucretilem  mutat  Lycaeo  Faunus,  and  see  Introd. 
§  40.  6. 

111.  gulae  parens  :  the  reason  for  vendit.       idem  :  besides,  you. 

112.  tecum  :  in  your  own  company,  alone. 

113.  ponere :    dispose  of,  really  invest,  like  a  sum  of  money. 
fugitivus  et  erro  :  applied  to  slaves  ;  erronem  sic  definimus,  qui  non 
quidem  fugit,  sed  frequenter  sine  causa  vagatur  et  temporibus  in  res 
nugatorias  consumptis  serius  domum  redit,  Ulpian,  Dig.  xxi.  1.  17. 14 ; 
Quid  sit  fugitivus  Ofllius  sic  definit :  fugitivus  est  qui  extra  domini 
domum  fugae  causa,  quo  se  a  domino  celaret,  mansit,  id.  xxi.  1.  17.  1. 

115.  frustra  :  to  no  purpose.       comes  atra  :  i.e.  Care;  cf.  Odes, 
iii.  1.  40,  Post  equitem  sedet  atra  Cur  a. 

116.  node  mihi  lapidem  :   sc.  reperiam ;  cf.  ii.  5.  102,  and  the 
note  ;  Horace's  temper  gets  the  better  of  him,  as  at  the  close  of  ii.  3. 

117.  aut  insanit,  etc. :  the  man  is  either  mad  (cf.  ii.  3.  127  ff.), 
or  writes  poetry  (cf.   ii.  3.   321  1).         ocius :   double-quick;   with 
nearly  the  force  of  a  superlative. 

118.  accedes  opera  nona  :  you  shall  become  a  ninth  laborer ; 
the  singular  opera  in  this  sense  is  rare.    Apparently  Horace  had  eight 
slaves  (operae}  on  his  Sabine  Farm  —  a  small  number.     Sending  slaves 
to  the  country  was  a  common  punishment;  cf.  Plaut.  Most.  18,  Cis 
hercle  paucas  tempestates,    Tranio,  Augebis  ruri  numerum,   genus 
ferratile. 


PAGE  79.]  BOOK  II.     SERMO  8.  297 


SERMO  VIII. 

1.  ut :  introducing  a  direct  question,  how  ;  a  colloquial  use.       Nasi- 
dieni :  scanned  in  four  syllables,  the  second  i  being  pronounced  as  a 
semi-vowel.        beati:  rich;  cf.  Odes,  i.  4.  14,  O  beate  Sesti.     Here 
with  an  underlying  ironical  force. 

2.  convivam :   sc.  te.      With  the  late   invitation,    cf.  ii.    7.  32. 
dictus  :  sc.  es,  a  colloquial  use.         here  :  the  regular  post- Augustan 
form,  while  heri  is  the  earlier  one  ;  cf.  Quint,  i.  4.  7,  in  '  here '  neque 
e  plane  neque  i  auditur.    Augustus  himself  used  the  earlier  form  ;  cf. 
Quint,  i.  7.  22,  heri  ad  me  venit,  quod  idem  in  epistulis  Augusti,  quas 
sua  manu  scripsit  aut  emendavit,  deprehenditur. 

3.  de  medio  .  .  .  die:  a  tempestivum  convinum,  beginning  very 
early  ;  for  the  usual  time,  see  Epist.  i.  5.  3  ;  i.  7.  71.        ut  .  .  .  fuerit 
melius :  sc.  iuvi ;  I  never  had  a  better  time ;  cf.  bene  erat,  ii.  2.  120. 

5.  iratum  :  cf.  latrantem,  ii.  2.  18. 

6.  in  primis :  i.e.  the  gustatio,  consisting  of  dishes  intended  to 
whet  the  appetite.     The  introduction  of  the  boar  at  this  time  was  a 
mark  of  luxury.     Cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  viii.  210,  ad  emendationem  morum 
quibus  non  tota  quidem  cena  sed  in  principio  bini  ternique  manduntur 
apri.       leni  .  .  .  Austro  :  when  a  mild  south  wind  was  blowing ;  cf. 
ii.  2.  41.     Ablative  of  attendant  circumstance. 

7.  captus :  participle,  caught.        cenae  pater  :  cf.  pater  domus, 
ii.  6.  88.     Great  ingenuity  is  shown  in  alluding  to  the  host  in  differ- 
ent ways  ;  cf.  lines  16,  23,  36,  43,  58,  73,  75,  93.        circum :  i.e.  around 
the  boar. 

8.  rapula  :  these  and  the  following  articles  are  regular  appetizers  ; 
cf.  ii.  2.  43.        lactucae  :  cf.  ii.  4.  59. 

9.  allec  :  brine  in  which  fish  had  been  kept ;  cf.  ii.  4.  73.        fae- 
cula  :  diminutive  of  faex  ;  cf.  ii.  4.  73. 

10.  alte  cinctus  :  cf.  ii.  6.  105,  and  the  note.         acernam  .  .  . 
mensam :  a  maple  table,  next  in  value  to  the  citrus  wood,  according 
to  Plin.  N.  H.  xvi.  66.     One  kind  was  regarded  as  superior  to  the 
citrus ;  cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  xvi.  68,  molluscum  .  .  .  si  magnitudine  mensa- 
rum  caper et  hand  dubie  praeferretur  citro. 

11.  gausape:  a  towel;  the  line  is  modelled  on  Lucilius  517  L, 
Purpureo  tersit  tune  latas  gausape  mensas. 

12.  quodcumque  .  .  .  inutile:  the  analecta ;  cf.  Mart.  vii.  20. 
17,  Colligere  longa  turpe  necputat  dextra,  Analecta  quidquid  et  canes 


298  BOOK  II.     SERMO  8.  [PAGE  79. 

reliquerunt.          iaceret  .  .  .  posset :    iterative   subjunctive.      See 
Introd.  §  45.  /. 

13.  Attica  virgo:    i.e.  a  Kavn<t>t>pa,  alluding  to  the  impressive 
solemnity  of  the  slave  ;  cf.  i.  3.  10,  Saepe  (incedebat}  velut  qui  lunonis 
sacra  ferret. 

14.  Hydaspes :  i.e.  an  Indian  slave  from  the  neighborhood  of  the 
river  Hydaspes,  an  unusual  luxury  at  this  time.     He  appears  to  be 
named  after  the  river,  like  Enipeus,  Odes,  iii.  7. 23,  and  Hebrus,  Odes, 
iii.  12.  6. 

15.  Caecuba  :  the  finest  Italian  wine  ;  cf.Qdes,  i.  20.  9.        Alcon : 
another  slave.        maris  expers  :  without  sea-water,  which  was  some- 
times added  to  wines ;  cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  xiv.  73,  nunc  gratia  ante  omnia 
est  Clazomenio  (vino},  postquam  parcius  mart  condiunt.     Lesbium 
sponte  suae  naturae  mare  sapit ;  Plaut.  Hud.  588,  quasi  vinis  Graecis 
Neptunus  nobis  suffudit  mare. 

17.  adpositis  :  i.e.  the  Caecuban  and  the  Chian. 

18.  miseras:  pitiful,  as  leading  to  ostentation.        quis  cenan- 
tibus  una  :  with  what  fellow-guests. 

19.  pulchre  fuerit  tibi :  you  made  merry ;  cf.  line  4  above,  and 
the  note. 

20.  summus,  etc.  :  see  the  Outline  of  the  Satire,  and  the  diagram. 

22.  umbras  :  uninvited  persons  brought  as  the  parasites  of  some 
distinguished  guest ;  cf.  Epist.  i.  5.  28.     Maecenas  seems  to  have  had 
a  number  of  such  hangers-on,  e.g.  Sarmentus,  i.  5.  52. 

23.  Porcius :  on  the  significant  name,  see  Introd.  §  32. 

24.  ridiculus  .  .  .  absorbere :  i.e.  who  made  fun  by  swallowing 
cakes  whole. 

25.  ad  hoc,  qui :  cf.  ii.  6.  42,  quern  tollere  raeda  vellet,  and  the 
note.         si  quid :  i.e.  any  elegant  or  luxurious  detail. 

26.  indice  .  .  .  digito  :    the  forefinger;   perhaps,   as  Kiessling 
suggests,  not  to  be  taken  literally. 

27.  nos,  inquam  :  we,  I  mean,  i.e.  all  but  Maecenas,  the  guest  of 
honor. 

28.  noto  :  the  familiar  one  ;  sc.  suco,  '  flavor.' 

29.  vel:  for  example;  vel,  the  old  injunctive  form  of  volo,  has 
various  meanings  derived  from  the  idea  of  '  choosing  '  or  *  selecting  ' ; 
cf.  Epist.  i.  5.  15.         patuit :  became  evident. 

30.  ingustata:   without   my  tasting  them;   i.e.  the  odor  alone 
revealed  the  novelty  of  the  dish. 

31.  melimela  .  .  .  delecta :  i.e.  that  the  red  honey  apples  were 


PAGE  81.]  BOOK  II.     SEKMO  8.  299 

gathered  by  the  light  of  the  waning  moon  ;  with  the  form  of  expres- 
sion, cf.  ii.  2.  31,  lupus  .  .  .  Met. 
32.   ipso  :  i.e.  Nasidienus. 

34.  damnose :  i.  e.  so  as  to  ruin  the  host.        bibimus :  the  pres- 
ent with  future  force.     Cf.  fert,  ii.  7.  34,  and  see  Introd.  §  44.  a. 
moriemur  inulti :  an  epic  expression ;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  ii.  670,  num- 
quam  omnes  hodie  moriemur  inulti,  and  see  note  on  i.  5.  3. 

35.  vertere:  spreads  over;  lit.  changes;  historical  infinitive. 

36.  parochi :  for  the  literal  meaning  of  the  word,  see  Serm.  i.  5. 
46.     Here  it  is  used  for  variety  (see  note  on  line  7)  and  with  a  con- 
temptuous force,  implying  that  Nasidienus  is  a  mere  'purveyor,'  lack- 
ing the  essential  qualities  of   a  host.         acris  :   strong-headed  j  cf. 
acria  pocula,  ii.  6.  69. 

37.  maledicunt  liberius :  i.e.  will  chaff  their  host,  and  make  him 
ridiculous  before  Maecenas,  or  will  fail  to  appreciate  his  banquet.     Cf. 
i.  4.  87-89. 

39.  Allifanis  :  sc.  vasis,  large  drinking-cups,  made  at  Allifae  in 
Samnium.      Note  the  metre,  and  see  note   on  i.  1.  4,  0  fortunati 
mercatores.        vinaria  tota  :  whole  wine-jars. 

40.  secutis  :  the  perfect  participle  here  has  the  force  of  a  present. 
imi  convivae  lecti :  the  parasites,  who  dared  not  offend  their  host 
and  patron. 

42.  natantis:  i.e.  swimming  in  the  sauce  by  which  the  murena 
was  surrounded. 

43.  sub  hoc  :  thereupon;  cf.  Epod.  5.  83,  Sub  haec  puer  iam  non 
ut  ante  .  .  .  misit. 

44.  post  partum :  i.e.  after  spawning.        futura:  since  it  would 
be;  on  the  use  of  the  future  participle,  see  Introd.  §  47. 

45.  his :  i.e.  the  ingredients  which  follow.        prima  .  .  .  cella  : 
i.e.  the  oil  first  pressed  from  the  olives ;  cf.  Colum.  xii.  52.  11,  sint 
in  cella  olearia  tres  labrorum  ordines,  ut  unus  primae  notae,  id 
est  primae  pressurae  oleum  recipiat,  alter  secundae,  tertius  tertiae. 
Venafri :  cf.  ii.  4.  69,  and  the  note. 

46.  garo:  a  kind  of  fish-jelly.    The  best  kind,  according  to  in- 
scriptions of  Pompeii,  was  called  garum-flos,  '  blossom  brand.'        pis- 
cis  Hiberi  :  Spanish  mackerel. 

47.  citra  mare  nato  :  i.e.  Italo.     Cf.  i.  10.  31. 

48.  dum  coquitur  :  the  Italian  wine  is  put  in  while  the  sauce  is 
cooking,  while  the  Chian  is  added  after  it  is  cooked  (coc£o). 

50.   quod  .  .  .  uvam  :  i.  e.  the  vinegar  must  be  made  of  Methym- 


300  BOOK  II.     SERMO  8.  [PAGE  81. 

naean  (Lesbian)  wine  which  has  soured  ;  lit.  which  it,  the  vinegar,  has 
soured. 

51.  primus  .  .  .  monstravi :   i.e.  Nasidienus  is  an  original  ex- 
perimenter in  the  gastronomic  art ;  cf.  ii.  2.  50. 

52.  incoquere :  to  cook  in,  i.e.  to  boil  in  the  sauce.        inlutos : 
unwashed,  the  better  to  retain  the  flavor  of  the  sea-water.        Curtil- 
lus :  another  gastronomic  artist. 

53.  ut  melius  :  in  a  kind  of  apposition  to  echinos;  cf.  ut  suavius 
in  line  89.         testa  marina  :  i.  e.  the  sea-urchin. 

54.  aulaea :  hangings,  used  to  decorate  the  walls.     Cf.  Odes,  iii. 
29.  15,  sine  aitlaeis  et  ostro ;  Val.  Max.  ix.  1.  5,  Attalicis  aulaeis 
contectos  parietes.     These  fell  with  the  dust  which  had  accumulated 
on  them  during  many  days. 

57.  maius :  i.e.  a  greater  danger,  such  as  an  earthquake  or  some- 
thing similar. 

58.  erigimur:  recover  ourselves'  the  verb  is  used  in  a  middle 
sense.         Rufus  :  i.e.  the  host,  Nasidienus  Rufus. 

59.  quis  esset  finis :  what  would  have  been  the  end  9  i.e.  of  his 
lamentation.     The  imperfect  esset  is  used  with  the  force  of  the  plu- 
perfect. 

60.  sapiens:   in  philosophic  wise;   said  ironically.        ami  cum 
tolleret :  raised  his  friend's  spirits. 

62.  ut  semper  gaudes:  how  you  always  delight;  cf.  ii.  6.  54. 

63.  mappa  :  with  his  napkin. 

64.  suspendens  omnia  naso :   always  cynical,  a  general  char- 
acteristic.    For  the  expression,    cf.  i.  6.  5,   naso  suspendis  adunco 
ignotos. 

65.  haec  .  .  .  vivendi :  i.e.  'such  is  life.' 

67.  tene  .  .  .  torquerier :  infinitive  of  exclamation ;  cf.  i.  9.  72 ; 
ironical,  since  Balatro  was  an  umbra,  and  the  trouble  was  not  taken 
for  him. 

72.  agaso  :  not  to  be  taken  literally,  but  meaning  a  clumsy  slave 
fit  only  to  serve  as  a  groom  or  stable-boy. 

73.  sed  convivatoris,  etc. :  i.e.  a  host's  savoirfaire  is  shown  by 
his  ability  to  meet  accidents,  while  a  dinner  which  went  off  smoothly 
would  give  no  opportunity  for  its  display.     Cf.  Sen.  Epist.  85.  34, 
tranquillo,  at  aiunt,  quilibet  gubernator  est. 

75.  Nasidienus :  he  takes  this  raillery  for  earnest.  tibi  di 
.  .  .  dent :  a  common  formula  of  blessing  or  gratitude ;  cf.  Plaut. 
Asin.  44,  Di  tibi  dent  quaequomque  optes. 


PAGE  82.]  BOOK   II.     SERMO  8.  301 

77.  soleas  poscit :  the  sandals  were  taken  off  when  reclining  at 
table.    Nasidienus  calls  for  his,  in  order  to  go  out  and  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  continuation  of  the  dinner.        videres :  you  could  see  ; 
cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  76,  and  see  Introd.  §  45.  d. 

78.  stridere  .  .  .  susurros :  i.e.  putting  their  heads  together  and 
exchanging  whispers ;  the  whispering  is  imitated  by  the  alliteration 
with  s  (sigmatismus). 

79.  nullos  .  .  .  spectasse  :  I  would  rather  have  seen  it  than  any 
play. 

80.  quae  deinceps  risisti :  what  you  found  to  laugh  at  next. 
Vibidius,  whose  empty  wine-cup  had  not  been  replaced  by  a  full 
one,  asks  whether  the  wine-jar  has  been  broken  as  well  (quoque}. 

83.  ridetur:  impersonal.         fictis  rerum  :  like  rani's  rerum,  ii. 
2.  25:    The  guests  exchange  jests  to  cover  the  real  cause  of  their  laugh- 
ter.       Balatro  secundo  :  with  the  help  of  Balatro  ;  i.e.  Balatro  fert 
secundas  (cf.  i.  9.  46)  to  Vibidius. 

84.  Nasidiene,  redis  :  a  parody  of  the  epic  manner.        mutatae 
frontis  :  genitive  of  quality,  predicate  to  redis :  with  changed  counte- 
nance, i.e.  cheered  up  again.          ut  .  .  .  emendatunis  :    like  one 
who  was  determined  to  improve.     The  expression  is  apparently  a  pro- 
verbial one ;  cf.  Ter.  Adelph.  741,  lllud  quod  cecidit  forte,  id  arte  ut 
corrigas. 

86.  mazonomo :  a  large  dish,  originally  used  for  bread  ;  a  Greek 
word,  fLOL^ovbfjuov. 

87.  gruis :  the  masculine,  instead  of  the  usual  feminine,  and  the 
feminine  anseris  in  the  next  line  are  apparently  intended  to  indicate 
the  novelty  of  Nasidienus's  dishes. 

88.  pastum  iecur  :  i.e.  the  liver  was  artificially  fattened,  as  in  the 
modern  pate  defoie  gras. 

90.  edit  =  edat ;  an  archaic  form  of    the   present  subjunctive, 
really  an  optative  ;  cf.  Epod.  3.  3. 

91.  sine  clune  :  intended  as  a  refinement  of  luxury,  though  that 
part  of  the  bird  was  often  regarded  as  a  delicacy  ;  cf.  Mart.  iii.  60.  7, 
Aureus  immodicis  turtur  te  clunibus  implet. 

92.  causas  narraret:  i.e.  Nasidienus  explains  why  a  male  crane 
is  selected,  and  a  white  goose,  etc. 

93.  ulti  :  in  revenge.     They  refuse  to  eat  his  lauded  delicacies. 

94.  velut :  for  velut  si. 

95.  Canidia  :  cf.  i.  8.  24,  and  the  note.        Afris  :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  10. 
18,  Nee  Mauris  animum  mitior  anyuilms. 


302  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  84. 

EPISTLES  —  BOOK   I. 
EPISTLE   I. 

1.  prima  dicte,  etc. :  a  dedication  of  the  first  book  of  Epistles  to 
Maecenas.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  1  ;  Serm.  i.  1.  1.         prima  .  .  .  Camena: 
with    the   expression,   cf.    Iliad,  ix.  96,   ' Arpeid-n  Ki/5t<rre,  &va£  avdpuv 
'  Aydfj.efj.vov,  tv  vol  fj,ev  X-^^w,  <r&>  8'  &p£ofj.ai.    Virg.  Eel.  viii.  11,  A  te  prin- 
cipium,  tibi  desinet ;  Odes,  iii.  6.  6.        Camena  :  the  Italic  name  for 
the  goddess  of  song,  the  Greek  MoG<ra. 

2.  spectatum  :  sc.  me.    Horace  likens  himself  to  a  gladiator  who 
has  earned  his  discharge  by  a  successful  term  of  service.     Instead  of 
saying  me  quasi  gladiatorem,  he  as  usual  identifies  himself  with  the 
object  of  his  simile.        rude:    the  wooden  sword,  presented  to  the 
discharged  gladiator  as  a  symbol  of  his  release  from  the  bloody  and 
deadly  contests  of  the  arena. 

3.  ludo:   the  school,  the  Indus  gladiatorius,  for  the  training  of 
gladiators.    There  is  a  play  on  the  meaning  of  Indus  as  applied  to  some 
forms  of  poetry.     Cf.  line  10  below ;  Serm.  i.  4.  139,  inludo  chartis. 

4.  non  .  .  .  aetas  :  sc.  mihi.        Veianius  :  Porph.  says :   Veianius 
nobilis  gladiator  post  multas  palmas,  consecratis  Herculi  Fundano 
armis  suis,  in  agellum  se  contulit,  which  might  have  been  inferred 
from  the  context ;  see  note  on  Fabium,  Serm.  i.  1.  14. 

5.  Herculis  ad  postern :   i.e.  on  one  of  the  columns  before  the 
entrance  to  the  temple  of   Hercules,  who  would    naturally  be  the 
patron  of  gladiators.      Cf.  Odes,  i.  5.  13  ff. ;  iii.  26.  3  f.         latet  abdi- 
tus  :  is  burled  in  retirement. 

6.  populum  .  .  .  exoret :  i.e.  beg  for  his  life,  if  defeated  by  an 
adversary.     The  unsuccessful  combatant  was  either  put  to  death  by 
the  victor,  or  spared,  if  the  audience  desired  it.    They  expressed  their 
wish  by  turning  their  thumbs  up  or  down.        extrema  .  .  .  harena  : 
from  the  edge  of  the  arena,  before  the  seats  of  the  spectators.    Harena 
is  the  classical  orthography  ;  our  word  '  arena  '  comes  from  the  later 
form  without  h.    See  B.  App.  §  23.        totiens  :  i.e.  as  often  as  he  was 
obliged  to  during  his  active  career.    We  read  in  one  of  the  Pompeian 
graffiti  of  a  gladiator  who  was  defeated  in  his  fifty-first  contest,  and 
spared  (missus}  by  the  people.     His  opponent  was  fighting  for  the 
twenty-sixth  time. 

7.  est  qui  .  .  .  personet :  some  one  is  always  dinning  it  into. 


PAGE  84.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  1.  303 

mihi :  dative  of  reference,  with  nearly  the  force  of  a  possessive  adjec- 
tive, purgatam :  attentive,  lit.  cleared,  so  as  to  hear  plainly  ;  an 
expression  parallel  with  emunctae  naris,  Serm.  i.  4.  8,  and  doubtless 
colloquial. 

8.  senescentem  .  .  .  equum  ;  cf.  Enn.  Ann.  ap.  Cic.  de  Sen.  5. 14, 
Sicutfortis  equos,  spatio  qui  saepe  supremo  Vicit  Olumpia,  nunc  senio 
confectus  quiescit.        mature :  betimes. 

9.  peccet  .  .  .  ridendus  :  i.e.  make  a  ridiculous  failure  at  the  end 
of  his  career.    The  original  meaning  of  pecco  (*ped-co)  is  'stumble.' 
ilia  ducat  :  pant  with  broken  wind,  referring  to  the  heaving  sides  of 
the  animal.    For  a  similar  expression,   cf.  Quint,  ix.  3.  101,  si  quis 
ducere  os  exquisitis  modis  et  frontis  ac  luminum  inconstantia  trepi- 
dare  non  desinat,  rideatur ;  Cic.  Orat.  25.  86. 

10.  itaque  :  accordingly.         ludicra :  follies  of  youth  ;  depositis 
levibus  fomentis  animi,  id  est  iocis  ac  versibus,  Porph. 

11.  quid  verum  .  .  .  euro  :  i.e.  he  devotes  himself  to  philosophy. 
decens  :  seemly,  becoming.        omnis  in  hoc  sum :  cf.  Serm..  i.  9.  2, 
totus  in  illis. 

12.  condo  et  compono  :  i.e.  he  is  collecting  and  arranging  a  fund 
of  philosophical  knowledge  for  future  use,  as  a  steward  would  store  up 
provisions  in  a  house.        depromere :  draw  on. 

13.  quo  duce  .  .  .  quo  Lare  :  i.e.  to  what  school  I  attach  myself. 

14.  addictus :  bound,  a  legal  term  used  of  the  insolvent  debtor 
who  had  been  made  the  slave  of  his  creditor.    Cicero  uses  the  word 
in  a  similar  way  of  philosophic  views,  but  with  an  apologetic  quasi, 
in  Tusc.  Disp.  ii.  2.  5,  qui  certis  quibusdam  destinatisque  sententiis 
quasi  addicti  et  consecrati  sunt.    The  word  was  used  of  the  relation 
of  gladiators  to  their  masters,  and  Horace  evidently  has  his  original 
simile  in  mind.        iurare  in  verba  :  since  the  oath  was  dictated  to 
the  gladiator  by  his  master.    The  same  expression  in  Epod.  15.  4. 

15.  tempestas  :  the  weather.     Cf.  Cic.  Acad.  ii.  3.  8,  ad  quam- 
cumque  sunt  disciplinam  quasi  tempestate  delati,  ad  earn  tamquam  ad 
saxum  adhaerescunt. 

16.  agilis :   active,  the  Greek  7rpa/cTi/c6s,  in  accordance  with  the 
views  of  the  Stoics,  who  recommended  an  active  participation  in  prac- 
tical life.     Cf.  Sen.de  Bencf.  iv.  2.  2,  virtus  .  .  .  ducere  debet,  imperare, 
summo  loco  stare.        fio :  the  elision  of  the  second  of  two  successive 
long  vowels  is  not  common.        mersor:    used  with  middle   force. 
Horace  himself  took  no  part  in  political  life,  but  simply  means  that 
he  at  times  inclines  toward  the  Stoics. 


304  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  84. 

17.  verae  :  true  or  genuine,  as  contrasted  with  the  views  of  other 
schools,  especially  of  the  Epicureans.         rigidus  :   austere,  a  con- 
ventional epithet.     Cf.  Sen.  Cons,  ad  Helv.  12.  4,  Stoicorum  rigida  et 
virilis  sapientia.       satelles :  disciple  ;  cf.  Tac.  Ann.  xvi.  22,  ( Thrasea} 
habet  sectatores  vel  potius  satellites,  qui  nondum  contumaciam  senten- 
tiarum,  sed  habitum  vultumque  eius  sectantur,  rigidi  et  tristes. 

18.  Aristippi :  a  pupil  of  Socrates,  and  founder  of  the  Cyrenaic 
School  of  Philosophy  based  on  Hedonism  (^5oj>7j).    See  note  on  line  19. 
furtim  :  because  in  his  heart  he  feels  the  Stoic  views  to  be  the  more 
worthy  of  acceptance.        relabor:  i.e.  he  backslides. 

19.  et  mini  res,  etc. :  Aristippus  held  that  men  should  enjoy  life, 
without  becoming  slaves  either  to  pleasure  or  to  duty. 

21.  opus  debentibus  :  hirelings  (operarii),  who  were  bound  to 
do  the  day's  work  for  which  they  were  engaged. 

22.  pupillis  :   boys  who  had  lost  their  fathers  were  under  the 
guardianship  (custodia)  of  their  mothers  until  their  fourteenth  year. 
To  these,  in  their  impatience  for  their  freedom,  the  years  seemed  to 
drag. 

24.  naviter :  with  all  my  might.    Navus,  originally  gnavus,  is  cog- 
nate with  gnarus  and  (g^notus ;  cf.  German  Jcennen  and  konnen. 

25.  aeque  .  .  .  aeque  .  .  .  aeque :  the  anaphora,  instead  of  aeque 
atque  (ac),  strongly  emphasizes  the  force  of  aeque. 

26.  neglectum  :  agreeing  with  quod,  the  neglect  of  which. 

27.  restat :  all  that  is  left  is,  i.e.  under  the  circumstances  he  can- 
not hope  to  accomplish  more.        ego  me  ipse  :  emphatic.    He  has 
learned  enough  for  the  guidance  of  his  own  life,  but  not  enough  to 
presume  to  teach  others.        elementis  :  general  principles. 

28.  possis :    jussive  subjunctive  with  concessive  or  conditional 
force,  suppose  you  cannot ;  for  non,  see  note  on  Serm.  ii.   5.  90. 
quantum  contendere :  i.e.  see  as   far ;    quantum  is  accusative  of 
extent.       Lynceus :  one  of  the  Argonauts,  famed  for  his  sharp  sight. 
He  was  a  Messenian,  son  of  Aphareus,  and  the  brother  of  Idas.    His 
name  was  evidently  given  him  on  account  of  his  keen-sigh tedness ; 
cf.  English  '  lynx-eyed.' 

29.  idcirco:  for  that  (reason),  referring  to  line  28.        lippus 
inungui :  i.e.  to  use  salve  for  your  weak  eyes ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  30,  and 
the  note. 

30.  desperes :  subjunctive  because  of  the  indefinite  second  person 
and  the  influence  of  the  neighboring  subjunctives.        Glycon  :  a  fa- 
mous athlete  of  the  day,  whose  specialty  was  the  pancratium,  including 


PAGE  85.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  1.  305 

both  wrestling  and  boxing.    His  prowess  is  celebrated  in  a  Greek  epi- 
gram, Anth.  Pal.  vii.  692  :  — 

,  rb  Hepya./j.r)vbv  'Aaidt  K\£OS, 

pavv6s,  6  TT\O.TVS  ir6das, 
6  Kaivbs  " ArXas  at  r   dviKarot 
eppovn,  TOV  d£  irpbadev  O$T'  ^j 
oij&'  'EXXdSi  Tpbirwrov  oftr   tv  'A<rt5t, 
6  iravra  VIK&V  'AtS^s  av^Tpairev. 

31.  cheragra  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  7.  15,  and  the  note. 

32.  est :   sc.  aliquid,  it  is  worth  something;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  103. 
quadam  .  .  .  tenus:  to  make  some  degree  of  progress  •  quadam  tenus 
is  divided  by  tmesis.     See  Introd.  §  53.  o. 

33.  fervet :  is  at  fever  heat,  a  paratactic  condition.        cupidine  : 
covetousness.     Cupido  is  always  masculine  in  Horace. 

34.  voces:  formulae,  charms,   opposed  to  verba,   single  words. 
lenire :  soothe.    As  is  seen  from  this  word  and  those  which  follow, 
Horace's  elementa  are  sufficient  to  help  the  trouble,  not  to  cure  it. 

36.  tumes  :  see  note  on  fervet,  line  33.        piacula  :  expiations;  cf. 
Celsus,  Praef.  1,  antiquissimo  tempore  morbi  ad  iram  deoruin  refere- 
bantur. 

37.  ter  :  charms  and  other  formulae  of  a  religious  or  healing  nature 
were  repeated  three  times  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  22.  3  ;  Serm.  ii.  1. 7.        pure : 
referring  to  the  purification  which  was  preliminary  to  all  religious 
rites  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  282,  lautis  manibus.     Here,  of  course,  the  refer- 
ence is  to  mental  preparation. 

38.  amator  :  the  context  shows  that  the  word  is  here  used  in  a  bad 
sense,  as  in  Odes,  iii.  4.  79.     Cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  iv.  12.  27,  aliud  est 
amatorem  esse,  aliud  amantem. 

39.  nemo :  i.e.  no  one,  in  short. 

40.  culturae :    cf.  Cic.   Tusc.  Disp.  ii.  5.  13,  cultura  animi  philo- 
sophia  est. 

41.  prima :  probably  to  be  taken  in  thought  with  virtus,  as  well 
as  with  sapientia.     Cf.  Quint,  viii.  3.  41,  prima  virtus  est  vitio  carere. 

42.  caruisse  :  note  the  tense  ;  the  first  step  in  wisdom  is  to  have 
rid  oneself  of  folly. 

43.  censum;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  75,  and  the  note.        repulsam  :  the 
regular  word  for  defeat  at  the  polls  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  2.  17.     At  this  time 
the  elections  were   still   held,  although  Augustus  had  the  right  to 
nominate  half  the  candidates,  and  had  the  veto  power  in  all  cases.    Cf. 


306  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  85. 

Suet.  Aug.  40,  comitiorum  pristinum  ius  reduxit,  multiplici  poena 
coercito  ambitu. 

44.  animi  capitisque  labore :  i.e.  mental  anxiety  and  danger  to 
life. 

45.  curris  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  30,  and  the  note.        extremes :  i.e. 
dwelling  at  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

48.  meliori  :  i.e.  a  wiser  man  than  yourself. 

49.  pagos  et  .  .  .  compita  .-  the  villages  and  cross-roads,  used  of 
a  local  pugilist.      He  would  of  course  be  glad  to  win  the  prize  at 
Olympia,  if  he  could  do  it  without  the  severe  training  which  would  be 
necessary.    The  Olympic  games  were  still  celebrated  in  Horace's  day 
and  continued  to  be  until  the  end  of  the  fourth  century  A.D.     Cf. 
Odes,  i.  3.  3. 

50.  magna  :  in  distinction  from  the  insignificant  country  festivals. 
Cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  1,  magna  Roma.        Olympia  :  accusative  of  the  inner 
object,  after  the  analogy  of  vincere  Olympia.     See  Introd.  §  38.  b. 

54.  lanus  summus  ab  imo :  Janus  (street)  from  top  to  bottom. 
See  note  on  Serm.  n.  3. 18.     Summus'ab  imo  is  equivalent  to  a  summo 
ad  imum  ;  cf.  Ars  Poet.  254,  primus  ad  extremum  similis  sibi. 

55.  prodocet:  publicly  teaches;   note  the  force  of  the  prefix. 
recinunt  .  .   .  dictata  :  chant  from  dictation.   They  repeat  the  lesson 
again  and  again,  prompted  by  the  teacher,  to  fix  it  in  their  memory. 
senesque:  the  old  as  well  as  the  young  are  pupils  in  that  school. 
The  figure  is  made  more  vivid  by  the  next  line,  which  is  repeated  from 
Serm.  i.  6.  74. 

56.  loculos  :  on  the  construction,  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  6.  74,  and 
Introd.  §  38.  c. 

57.  mores  =  mores  probri;    cf.    Odes,    iii.    24.   35.         lingua : 
eloquence. 

58.  quadringentis :   sc.  milibus  sestertium  (about  $20,000),  the 
equestrian  census. 

59.  plebs  :  one  of  the  common  people.        rex  eris,  etc. :  part  of  a 
trochaic  tetrameter  quoted  by  Isidore,  Origines  viii.  3.  4,  rex  eris  si 
recte  fades,  si  non  fades  ndn  eris. 

60.  hie  :  i.e.  recte  facere;  hie  is  attracted  to  the  gender  of  murus. 
munis  aeneus  :  i.e.  a  defence  against  the  ills  of  life. 

61.  sibi :  of  an  indefinite  subject,  oneself,  instead  of  tibi  in  direct 
address. 

62.  Roscia   .    .    .   lex  :    L.  Roscius  Otho,  when  tribune  of  the 
people  in  68  B.C.,  passed  a  law  that  the  fourteen  rows  of  seats  at  the 


PAGE  80.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  1.  307 

theatre  just  above  the  orchestra  should  be  assigned  to  the  equites  ;  cf. 
Serm.  i.  6.  40.  sodes :  pray.  The  derivation  given  by  Cic.  Orat. 
45.  154,  is  probably  the  correct  one:  libenter  verba  iungebant  ut 
*  sodes '  pro  '  si  audes '  ;  the  meaning  of  audes  being  avidus  es. 

63.  nenia:  ditty,  used  of  any  rhyming  formula;  cf.  Epod.  17.  29, 
Sabella  pectus  increpare  carmina,  Caputque  Marsa  dissilire  nenia. 

64.  maribus :  manly.        Curiis  et  .  .  .  Camillis :  types  of  the 
Romans  of  the  good  old  times. 

65.  facias:  jussive  subjunctive,  governed  by  suadet  understood. 
rem:    for   rem  familiarem ;   notice  the  emphatic  repetition.     Bern 
facias  seems  to  mean  practise  the  art  of  making  money,  after  the 
analogy  of  argentariam  (artem')  facere  and  the  like. 

67.  propius :    i.e.  from  nearer  the  stage ;   cf.  note   on  line  62. 
lacrimosa  :  tearful,  i.e.  causing  tears;   cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  80,  lacrimoso 
fumo.        Pupi :  a  writer  of  tragedy,  otherwise  unknown. 

68.  Fortunae  .  .  .  superbae  :    cf.  Odes,  iii.    29.    50,    Fortuna 
saevo  laeta  negotio  et  Ludum  insolentem  ludere  pertinax.        respon- 
sare :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  7.  85,  responsare  cupidinibus  fortis. 

69.  praesens :  like  a  guardian  deity  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  68,  praeda 
quam  praesens  Mercurius  fert.        hortatur  et  aptat :  urges  and  fits 
you. 

70.  quod  si  ...  roget :  cf.  line  13  above. 

71.  porticibus  :  the  colonnades,  the  lounging  places  of  the  popu- 
lace ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  134,  and  the  note.        iudiciis  :  mews. 

72.  ipse  :  i.e.  populus  Eomanus. 

73.  olim  :   once  upon  a  time ;  see  note  on  i.  1.  25.        volpes :   a 
familiar  fable,  referred  to  also  by  Lucil.  919-924  L.,  leonem  Aegrotum 
ac  lassum  .  .  .  Deducta  turn  voce  leo  '  cur  tu  ipsa  venire  Non  vis  haec  ? ' 
'  Quid  sibi  vult,  quarefit  ut  introvorsus  et  ad  te  Spectent  atque  ferant 
vestigia  se  omnia  prorsus  9 ' 

76.  belua  multorum  capitum :    a  common  comparison.     The 
sentiment  is  the  same  as  in  Serm.  ii.  1.  27,  quot  capitum  vivunt,  toti- 
dem  studiorum.        nam  :  used  as  an  asseverative  particle  ;  cf.  Plaut. 
Most.  368,  quid  ego  ago  nam  ?     Ter.  Phorm.  732,  nam  quae  haec 
anus  est  ?     Cf.  quidnam,  etc. 

77.  conducere  publica  :  to  undertake  public  'contracts,  either  for 
farming  the  taxes,  or  for  such  services  as  are  mentioned  by  Juv.  iii.  31, 
Quis  facile  est  aedem  conducere,  flumina,  portus,  Siccandam  eluviem, 
portandum  ad  busta  cadaver.        sunt  qui  .  .  .  venentur :  referring 
to  will-hunters  (captatores),  such  as  are  described  in  Serm.  ii.  5. 


308  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  86. 

78.  crustis  et  pomis:  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  10-17. 

79.  vivaria  :  preserves,  where  they  may  be  kept  until  wanted,  like 
captive  animals  or  like  fish  in  a  tank. 

80.  occulto :  unobserved.       verum  esto :  but  admit  for  the  sake 
of  argument. 

82.  idem  :  nominative  plural.        durare  probantes :  continue  to 
like. 

83.  sinus  :  of  the  winding  shore  of  the  bay.        Bais  :  the  favorite 
seaside   resort  of  the  Romans ;   cf.  Odes,  iii.  4.  24,  liquidae  Baiae. 
praelucet :  i.e.  is  preferable  to;  cf.   Odes,  i.  33.  3,  cur  tibi  iunior 
Laesa  praeniteat  fide? 

84.  lacus  :  sc.  Lucrinus,  into  which,  as  well  as  into  the  sea,  villas 
were  built.     Cf.  Odes,  iii.  1.  33-36,  Contracta  pisces  aequora  sentiunt 
lactis  in  altum  molibus,  etc. 

85.  vitiosa  :  perverted,  morbid;  see  note  on  i.  3.  1. 

86.  fecerit  auspicium :  suggested ;  the  prompting  of  vitiosa  libido 
is  compared  with   a  message  from  the  gods   by  means  of  augury. 
Teanum :  often  called  Teanum  Sidicinum,  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
Apulian  Teanum  ;  an  inland  town  of  Campania  and  a  favorite  resort, 
where  the  rich  man  now  decides  to  build  a  villa. 

87.  tolletis  :   future  with  imperative  force.         lectus  genialis : 
the  couch  symbolic  of  marriage,  under  the  protection  of  the  genius  of 
the  family.     It  stood  in  the  atrium,  for  which  aula  is  here  used. 

89.  bene  esse :  i.e.  that  they  only  enjoy  life  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  120, 
bene  erat  (sc.  nobis)  non  piscibus  urbe  petitis  ;  and  see  Introd.  §  51.  a. 

90.  Protea  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  71,  and  the  note. 

91.  quid  pauper:   sc.  facit ;   what  of  the  man  who  is  not  rich? 
cenacula :   garrets;  cf.  Varro,  L.  L.  v.  162,  ubi  cenabant,,  cenacu- 
lum  vocitabant :  posteaquam  in  superiore  parte  cenitare  coeperunt, 
superioris  domus  universa  cenacula  dicta.     The  poor  man  is  as  dis- 
contented as  the  rich  man,  and  makes  such  changes  as  he  can. 

92.  aeque  nauseat :  gets  just  as  seasick.    Apparently  a  common 
complaint ;  cf.  Sen.  de  Ira,  iii.  37.  3,  num  quis  se  hieme  algere  miratur? 
num  quis  in  mari  nausiare  ? 

94.  curatus  inaequali  tonsore :  by  unsymmetric  barber  trimmed 
(Lane).     Cf.  i.  3.  30,  rideri  possit  eo  quod  Eusticius  tonso  toga  defluit. 
Tonsore  is  ablative  of  instrument,  instead  of  a  tonsore;  cf.  pueris, 
Serm.  i.  6.  116,  and  the  note. 

95.  subucula :  under-garment ;  cf.  Varro,  ap.  Nonius,  p.  542, postea- 
quam binas  tunicas  habere  coeperunt,  instituerunt  vocare  subuculam 


PAGE  87.]  BOOK   I.    EPISTLE  2.  309 

et  indusium.  pexae  :  fresh,  new;  lit.  combed.  When  cloth  was 
prepared  by  the  fullers,  the  nap  was  combed  up  with  the  spina  ful- 
lonia,  and  clipped  so  as  to  be  even. 

96.  impar :  unevenly,  i.e.  with  one  side  higher  than  the  other. 
Great  care  was  taken,  by  well-dressed  men,  in  arranging  the  folds  of 
the  toga ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  30,  cited  above  on  line  94. 

97.  pugnat  secum  :  is  inconsistent ;  with  the  metaphor,  cf.  Serm. 
i.  1.  102,  pergis  pugnantia  secum  Frontibus  adversis  componere,  and 
the  note. 

98.  Note  the  chiastic  arrangement  of  the  line. 

99.  aestuat :  ebbs  and  flows,  like  the  tide  of  the  sea.        discon- 
venit:  is  out  of  harmony.     Cf.  i.  14.  18,  eo  disconvenit  inter  Meque  et 
te,  the  only  other  place  where  the  word  is  found  in  classical  Latin. 

100.  mutat  quadrata  rotundis  :  probably  a  proverbial  expression. 
For  the  construction,  cf.  Serm.  ii.  7.  110,  quipueruvam  Furtiva  mutat 
strigili,  and  the  note. 

101.  insanire  .  .  .  sollemnia  :  i.e.  that  I  am  no  more  mad  than 
the  greater  part  of  mankind.     Sollemnia  is  accusative  of  the  inner 
object,  after  the  analogy  of  insanire  sollemnem  insaniam.  . 

102.  curatoris  a  praetore  dati :   a  guardian  assigned  by  the. 
praetor ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  217. 

103.  rerum  tutela  meanim :  '  the  (self-appointed)  protector  of  my 
fortunes.'     Cf.  Odes,  iv.  14.  43,  o  tutela  praesens  Italiae. 

104.  prave  sectum  .  .  .  unguem  :  the  Komans  gave  great  atten- 
tion to  the  care  of  their  nails  ;  cf.  i.  7.  49-50. 

105.  respicientis :   i.e.  looking  to  you  for  counsel. 

106.  ad  summam  :  i.e.  to  sum  up  the  whole  argument. 

107.  honoratus  :  i.e.  is  chosen  to  office. 

108.  nisi  cum,  etc.  :  as  usual  Horace  ends  his  serious  discourse 
with  a  jest,  in  this  case  a  play  on  the  double  meaning  of  sanus,  'sane1 
and  '  sound '  (in  health) .        pituita  :  scanned  in  three  syllables. 

EPISTLE   II. 

1.  Maxime :  the  cognomen  precedes,  as  in  Serm.  1. 4. 27  ;  see  note. 
Who  is  referred  to,  is  uncertain. 

2.  declamas  :  are  declaiming,  i.e.  studying  oratory.        Praeneste : 
a  favorite  resort  of  Horace ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  4.  23.     Locative  ablative. 

3.  quid  sit  pulchrum  .  .  .  quid  non:    a  summary  of   ethical 
principles. 


310  BOOK, I.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  88. 

4.  planius :   more  clearly.        Chrysippus  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.   126, 
and  the  note.        Crantore  :  the  head  of  the  Academic  School.     He 
and  Chrysippus  are  mentioned  as  typical  of  philosophers  in  general. 

5.  crediderim  :  have  come  to  think ;  =  sentiam.        distinct :  dis- 
tracts;  i.e.  unless  you  have  something  else  to  think  of. 

7.  barbariae  :  applied  after  the  Greek  usage  to  Phrygia  ;  cf.  Odes, 
ii.  4.  9,  Barbarae  postquam  cecidere  turmae  Thessalo  victore. 
lento :  lingering,  of  the  ten-year  siege.  duello  :  the  archaic  form 
of  bello. 

B.  stultorum  :  used  in  the  philosophic  sense.  aestus  :  the  fit- 
ful passions;  the  metaphor  is  the  same  as  in  sententia* aestuat,  i. 
1.  99. 

9.  Antenor :  cf.  Iliad,  vii.  347  f. ;  Liv.  i.  1.1,  (Aeneas  Antenorque} 
pads  reddendaeque  Helenae  semper  auctores  fuerunt.        censet  .  .  . 
praecidere  :  advises  cutting  away,  like  a  diseased  limb.    For  the 
construction,  cf.  Liv.  xliii.  5.  8,  munera  mitti  legatis  censuerunt,  etc. 

10.  quid  Paris:  sc.  facit ;  cf.  quid  pauper,  i.  1.  91.        ut  '  .  . 
regnet:  probably  stipulative  subjunctive  (see  Introd.  45.  e)  ;  i.e.  Paris 
says  that  he  cannot  be  forced  to  give  up  Helen,  even  on  the  promise 
of  securing  safety  and  happiness. 

11.  Nestor  :  cf.  Iliad,  i.  247  ff. 

12.  inter  .  .  .  et  inter :  for  the  repetition  of  the  preposition, 
cf.  Serm.  i.  7.  11,  inter  Hectora  .  .  .  atque  inter  Achillem. 

13.  hunc :  i.e.  Agamemnon. 

14.  quicquid  .  .  .  Achivi :  i.e.  whatever  folly  the  kings  commit 
is  visited  on  the  Greeks  as  a  whole.     Quicquid  is  an  accusative  of  the 
inner  object ;  cf.  insanire  sollemnia,  i.  1.  101. 

16.  peccatur :   impersonal,  governed  by  the  ablatives  in  the  pre- 
ceding line. 

17.  rursus:  again,  i.e.  on  the  other  hand;  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  28,  at 
tibi  contra  Evenit,  inquirant  vitia  ut  tua  rursus  et  illi. 

19.  domitor  Troiae :  Odysseus  was  the  real  conqueror  of  the  city. 
This  line  arid  the  next  two  are  a  translation  of  the  beginning  of  the 
Odyssey.  Cf.  Ars  Poet.  141-143. 

23.  Sirenum  voces  :  the  Sirens  were  beautiful  maidens,  who,  by 
their  sweet  singing,  lured  to  destruction  those  who  passed  near  their 
isle.  When  Odysseus  sailed  by,  he  stopped  the  ears  of  his  companions 
with  wax,  and  had  them  bind  him  to  the  mast,  so  that  he  might  hear 
the  songs  without  danger.  Cf.  Odyss.  xii.  39  ff.  Circae  pocula: 
Circe,  who  dwelt  in  the  island  of  Aeaea,  was  famous  for  her  skill  in 


PAGE  88.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  2.  311 

the  magic  arts.  When  Odysseus  was  driven  to  Aeaea,  some  of  his 
companions  wandered  to  Circe's  palace,  and  drinking  the  drugged 
wine  which  she  set  before  them,  were  changed  into  swine.  Cf. 
Odyss.  x.  136  ff. 

24.  stultus  cupidusque  :  foolishly  and  greedily,  in  distinction 
from  Odysseus  himself,  who  did  not  drink  until  he  had  received  an 
antidote  from  Hermes. 

25.  turpis  :  with  the  double  meaning  of  hideous,  like  a  beast,  and 
degraded.        excors:  unreasoning,  foolish;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  67,  an 
magis  excors,  JReiecta  praeda  quam  praesens  Mercurius  fert. 

26.  canis  :  the  dog  with  the  Greeks  and  Romans  was  a  symbol  of 
uncleanness,  and  canis  is  often  used  as  a  term  of  reproach  ;  e.g.  Epod. 
6.  1. 

27.  numerus :  mere  ciphers,  of  no  value  alone,  but  swelling  the 
sum  total  of  humanity.        fniges  consumere  nati  :  a  translation  of 
an  Homeric  phrase,  Iliad,  vi.  142,  ^porcD?,  ot  dpotpijs  napirbv  Zdovviv. 

28.  sponsi :    for  prod,  suitors.        Alcinoi  .  .  .  iuventus :  Al- 
cinous  was  king  of  the  Phaeacians,  a  mythical  people,  who  led  a  life 
of  peace  and  perfect  happiness  in  the  island  of  Scheria,  with  which 
Corcyra  was  afterward  identified.     Cf.  Odyss.  viii.  248  ff.        nebulo- 
nes  :  with  the  force  of  an  adjective  modifying  sponsi. 

29.  cute  curanda  :  of  a  life  of  idleness,  like  pelliculam  curare, 
Serm.  ii.  5.  37.        operata  :  busy,  used  sarcastically. 

30.  pulchmm :  noble,  fine,  with  sarcastic  reference  to  pulchrum 
in  line  3. 

31.  cessatum  .  .  .  curam :  to  lull  care  to  rest ;  cessatum  is  the 
supine  modifying  ducere. 

32.  de  nocte  :  before  daylight.     Cf.  Ter.  Adelph.  840,  rus  eras 
cum  Jilio  Cum  primo  luci  ibo  hinc.     De  nocte  censeo. 

33.  expergisceris  :  present  with  future  force,  won't  you  get  up  ? 
atqui  :  and  yet,  implying  that  a  negative  answer  was  expected  to 
the  preceding  question. 

34.  noles  :  sc.  currere.        curres  hydropicus  :  i.e.  you  will  have 
to  take  exercise  for  your  health.     Cf.  Celsus,  iii.  21,  hydropicis  multum 
ambulandum,  currendum  aliquid  est. 

35.  posces  :  from  a  slave.     Cf.  ii.  1.  112,  et  prius  orto  Sole  vigil 
calamum  et  chartas  et  scrinia  posco. 

36.  intendes  animum  :  i.e.  employ  your  mind.     The  same  meta- 
phor as  in  tender •€  opus,  ii.  1.  2. 

37.  vigil :  sleepless.        nam  cur  :  equivalent  to  cur  nam,  Why  in 


312  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  89. 

the  world  f    Nam  has  asseverative  force,  as  in  i.  1.  76.     Cf.  Plant.  Aul. 
43,  nam  cur  me  verberas  ? 

39.  est  =  edit  from  edo.        in  annum  :  for  a  year,  with  somewhat 
the  same  force  as  in  i.  18.  109,    provisae  frugis  in  annum  copia. 

40.  dimidium  .  .  .  habet :  well  begun  is  half  done;  the  proverb 
is  an  old  one  ;  cf.  Plat,  de  Legg.  6.  753  e,  apx?i  yap  X^yereu  ^v  TJ/J-KT^ 
-iravrbs  tv  rats  Trapoifjt.la.is  cpyov.        sapere  aude  :  dare  to  be  wise  ;  cf. 
Virg.  Aen.  viii.  364,  aude,  hospes,  contemnere  opes. 

42.  rusticus  :  i.e.  is  like  the  clown  who.     Cf.  note  on  spectatum, 
i.  1.  2.    The  reference  is  doubtless  to  some  familiar  story,  but  it  is  not 
otherwise  known  to  us. 

43.  labitur  .  .  .  aevum  :  the  abundance  of  dactyls  and  the  repeti- 
tion of  the  liquid  I  are  appropriate  to  the  flowing  stream. 

44.  argentum :   money;  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  86,  cum  tu  argento  post 
omnia  ponis.        beata  :  rich  ;  cf.  dotata  coniunx,   Odes,  iii.  24.  19  ; 
and  for  the  meaning  of  beata,  Odes,  i.  29.  1,  beatis  gazis. 

45.  pacantur  :  are  subdued,  i.e.  we  enlarge  our  estates  by  clear- 
ing the  woods  and  tilling  the  soil.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  vi.  803,  Alcides  .  .  . 
Erymanthi  pacarit  nemora. 

46.  contingit :  present  of  continued  action  ;  cf.  i.  4.  10,  cui  Gratia, 
fama,  valetudo  contingat  abunde ;  i.  15.  44. 

48.   deduxit :  the  gnomic  perfect ;  never  has,  and  hence  never  will. 
See  Introd.  §  44.  d. 

50.  comportatis :  accumulated,  with  reference  to  acervus  in  line 
47.        bene  uti  :  i.e.  to  enjoy.        cogitat :  thinks  to,  in  the  sense  of 
4  expects  to.' 

51.  sic  .  .  .  ut :  i.e.  as  little  as. 

52.  pictae  tabulae :  pictures.     Tabulae  alone  is  often  used  with 
that  meaning,  with  ellipsis  of  pictae ;  e.g.  Ars  Poet.  6,  isti  tabulae  fore 
librum  persimilem.        fomenta  :    applications  of  hot  water,  which 
would  be  agreeable  to  a  well  person,  but  give  no  pleasure  to  one  sick 
with  gout. 

54.  sincerum :  clean.    The  comparison  of  the  soul  with  a  vase  is 
found  in  Plato,  Protag.  314  6. 

56.  certum  finem  :  i.e.  set  as  a  fixed  limit  to  your  desires  the 
amount  which  is  sufficient  for  your  needs.         voto :  dative  of  the 
indirect  object. 

57.  alterius  :  note  the  word  ;  his  rival ;  see  note  on  alter,  Serm.  i. 
1.  40.     With  the  general  sentiment,  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  110. 

58.  Siculi  .  .  .  tyranni :  their  cruelty,  especially  that  of  Dionysius 


PAGE  90.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  3.  313 

and  Phalaris,  was  proverbial ;  cf.  Cic.  Verr.  ii.  5.  56.  145,  non 
Dionysius  ille  nee  Phalaris,  tulit  enim  ilia  quondam  insula  (Sicilia) 
multos  et  crudelis  tyrannos. 

59.  moderabitur  :  restrain.    Horace  dwells  longer  on  the  defect 
of  ira,  as  his  own  besetting  sin.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  323. 

60.  dolor  .  .  .  et  mens :  his  angry  feelings,  hendiadys. 

61.  odio  .  .  .  inulto  :  dative,  for  his  unsatisfied  vengeance. 

62.  ira  furor  brevis:   proverbial ;  cf.  Sen.  de  Ira,  i.  1.  2,  quidam 
Hague  ex  sapientibus  viris  iram  dixerunt  brevem  insaniam. 

63.  tu  :  note  the  postponement  of  the  subject  to  the  second  part  of 
the  sentence  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  122. 

64.  fingit :  trains,   moulds  to  his  will.        tenera  .  .  .  cervice : 
i.e.  when  it  is  still  young.         magister  :  the  trainer.     Cf.  Varr.  Sat. 
Men.  559,  nam  ut  ecus  qui  ad  vehendum  est  natus,  tamen  hie  traditur 
magistro. 

65.  viam:  accusative  of  the  inner  object.   See- Introd.  §  38.6.     qua 
monstrat  eques  :  where  his  rider  shows  the  way.        venaticus :  i.e. 
trained  for  the  chase. 

66.  cervinam  pellem  :  i.e.  the  puppies  were  trained  for  the  chase 
by  being  taught  to  bark  at  a  stuffed  stag.        aula :    courtyard;  for 
atrium;  cf.  i.  1.  87,  lectus  genialis  est  in  aula. 

67.  mine  .  .  .  puer  :  now,  when  still  young. 

68.  melioribus  :  masculine,,  as  in  i.  1.48. 

69.  quo  semel  .  .  .  testa  diu  :  cf.   "You  may  break,  you  may 
shatter  the  vase,  if  you  will,  The  scent  of  the  roses  will  cling  to  it 
still." 

70.  strenuus  :  i.e.  in  your  enthusiasm.     Horace  advocates  the 
golden  mean,  even  in  the  pursuit  of  virtue. 

71.  ins  to  :  press  after. 

EPISTLE  III. 

1.  quibus  terrarum  .  .  .  oris  :  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  331,  quibus  orbis 
in  oris.     Oris  implies  remote  lands.        militet :  is  serving,  here  used 
of  the  commander  of  the  expedition. 

2.  Claudius  :  his  full  name  was  Tiberius  Claudius  Nero.        pri- 
vignus :    stepson ;   Tiberius  was  the  son  of  Tiberius  Claudius  Nero 
and  Livia,  the  wife  of  Augustus.     He  was  adopted  by  Augustus  in 
3  A.D.,  after  the  death  of  Gaius  and  Lucius  Caesar.        scire  laboro  : 
cf.  nosse  laboro,  Serm.  ii.  8.  19. 

3.  Thraca  :  a  poetical  and  earlier  form  of  Thracia,  used  according 


314  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  90. 

to  Servius  (on  Aen.  xii.  335)  by  Cicero,  de  Eep.  ii.  4.  In  Horace 
again  in  Epist.  i.  16.  13.  In  this  and  the  two  following  lines  successive 
stages  of  the  journey  to  Armenia  are  mentioned.  nivali  compede 
vinctus  :  a  general  epithet  of  the  proverbially  cold  Hebrus. 

4.  freta  .  .  .  currentia  :  the  Hellespont,  which  has  a  strong  west- 
ward current.  vicinas  .  .  .  turris :  at  Sestos  and  Abydos.  The 
width  is  less  than  a  mile  at  the  narrowest  point. 

6.  studiosa  :  ambitious.        cohors  :  suite,  attendants  on  the  com- 
mander, with  or  without  special  appointments.     So  Catullus  accom- 
panied Meminius  to  Bithynia.        operum:  to  be  joined  with  quid; 
genitive  of  the  whole.         euro  :  equivalent  to  scire  laboro,  line  2. 

7.  suniit :  cf.  Odes,  i.  12.  2,  sumis  celebrare  ;  Ars  Poet.  38,  sumite 
materiam  vestris  .  .  .  aequam  viribus.  ' 

8.  bella  et  paces :  i.e.  his  deeds  in  war  and  in  peace  ;  cf.  Serm. 
ii.  1.  10-17.        longum  in  aevum :    cf.    Odes,  iv.  14.  3,  virtutes  in 
aemnn  .  .  .  aeternet. 

9.  quid :    sc.   sumit    or    struit.        Titius :    otherwise    unknown. 
Romana  venturus  in  ora  :  i.  e.  to  be  talked  of,  to  become  famous ; 
cf.  Ennius,  ap.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  i.  15.  34,  volito  vivos  per  ora  virum. 

10.  Pindarici  fontis  :  the  spring  at  which  Pindar  drank ;  on  the 
difficulty  of  imitating  Pindar,  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2 ;  hence  non  expalluit. 
haustus:  object  of  expalluit;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  27.  25  ff.,  Europe  .  .  .  sca- 
tentem  beluis  pontum  palluit. 

11.  lacus  et  rivos  apertos :    tanks   (cf.   Serm.   i.   4.    37)    and 
streams,  in  distinction  from  Pindarici  fontis.     For  the  general  idea, 
cf.  Quint,  x.  1.  109,  non  enim  pluvias,  ut  ait  Pindarus,  aquas  colligit 
(Cicero'},  sed  vivo  gurgite  exundat. 

12.  ut :  how  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  8. 1,  ut  Nasidieni  iuvit  te  cena  ?        fidi- 
busne  Latinis  .  .  .  modos :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  30.  13,  princeps  Aeolium 
carmen  ad  Italos  Deduxisse  modos. 

13.  Thebanos  :  i.e.  Pindaric.        auspice  Musa  :  with  the  favor 
of  the  Muse. 

14.  desaevit :   rant,  as  the  personages  of  tragedy  do ;  cf.  Serm. 
i.  10,  36,  Turgidus  Alpinus  iugulat  dum  Memnona.        ampullatur  : 
of  the  bombastic  language  of  tragedy  ;  cf.  Ars  Poet.  97,  Telephus  et 
Peleus  .  .  .  Proicit  ampullas  et  sesquipedalia  verba.    The  word  seems 
to  be  coined  by  Horace,  after  the  Greek  \T)Kv6ifa. 

15.  mihi :  my  friend,   a  good  example  of  the   so-called   ethical 
dative.        Celsus  :   apparently  referring  to   Celsus  Albinovanus,  to 
whom  Epist.  i.  8  is  addressed. 


PAGE  92.  J  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  4.  315 

16.  privatas  .   .  .  opes  :  material  of  his  own,  instead  of  borrowing 
from  earlier  writers,  whose  works  were  already  in  the  public  library. 
Cf.  Ars  Poet.  131,  Publica  materies  privati  iuris  erit,  si.  .  .  . 

17.  Palatinus  .  .  .  Apollo  :    referring    to    the    public    library 
founded  by  Octavian  in  28  B.C.,  in  the  temple  of  Apollo  on  the  Palatine 
Hill. 

19.  cornicula :  the  reference  is  to  the  well-known  fable  of  the 
Jack-daw  (here  the  crow)  which  dressed  itself  in  borrowed  plumage. 
The  diminutive  expresses  humorous  compassion,  the  poor  little  crow. 

20.  furtivis:  stolen;  cf.  Serm.ii.  7.  110.        audes:  venture  on. 

21.  quae  .  .  .  circumvolitas :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.  27  f.,  apis  Matinae 
more    modoque    Grata    carpentis    thyma  per    laborem    Plurimum. 
agilis:  busy;  cf.  i.  1.  16,  nunc  agilis  fio. 

22.  hirtum  :  rough,  like  a  neglected  field.    For  the  use  of  turpiter, 
cf.  Odes,  iii.  11,  35,  splendide  mendax  ;  Ars  Poet.  3,  turpiter  atrum. 

23.  linguam  .  .  .  acuis :    metaphorically    of    the    work   of   the 
pleader.        civica  iura  respondere :  i.e.  act  as  iure  consultus ;  see 
note  on  Serm.  i.  1.  9.    The  technical  term  is  ius  civile  respondere. 

25.  hederae  :   applying  strictly  only  to  condis  .  .  .  carmen.     Cf. 
Odes,  i.  1.  29,  doctarum  hederae  praemia  fontium. 

26.  curanim  :  appositive  genitive,  i.e.  cares  which,  like  cold  com- 
presses, diminish  your  ardor. 

27.  caelestis :  heaven-born. 

29.  nobis  .  .  .  cari :  i.e.  with  self-respect. 

30.  sit  tibi  curae  quantae  conveniat :   is  as  dear  to  you  as  he 
ought  to  be ;  curae  is  the  dative  of  purpose. 

31.  Munatius :  probably  the  son  of  Lucius  Munatius  Plancus,  to 
whom  Odes  i.  7  is  addressed.         male  sarta  .  .  .  coit :  like  a  wound 
which  has  been  sewed  up,  but  does  not  heal. 

33.  rerum  inscitia  :  i.e.  ignorance  of  the  world. 

34.  feros  :  high-spirited. 

36.  pascitur  .  .  .  votiva :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.  54,  Me  tener  solvet  vitu- 
lus,  relicta  Matre  qui  largis  iuvenescit  herbis  In  mea  vota. 

EPISTLE   IV. 

1.  Albi :  Albius  Tibullus,  the  elegiac  poet  (54-19  B.  c.).  The  use  of 
the  praenomen  alone  indicates  familiarity  ;  cf.  i.  3.  1.  sermonum : 
referring  to  Horace's  work,  the  Sermones.  candide  :  fair,  impar- 
tial, not  necessarily  implying  a  favorable  judgment.  Evidently  the 


316  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  4.  [PAGE  92. 

Sermones  had  met  some  criticism  to  which  the  term  could  not,  in  Hor- 
ace's opinion,  be  applied. 

2.  Pedana  :  Pedum  was  an  ancient  town  between  Tibur  and  Prae- 
neste.     It  had  apparently  ceased  to  exist  in  Horace's  time,  though  the 
name  was  still  applied  to  the  district.    Tibullus  seems  to  have  had  a 
villa  in  the  neighborhood. 

3.  scribere  :  sc.  dicam  te.        Cassi  Parmensi :  so  called  to  distin- 
guish him  from  C.  Cassius  Longinus.     He  also  was  one  of  the  conspi- 
rators against  the  life  of  Caesar  and  a  fellow-soldier  of  Horace  in  the 
army  of  Brutus.        opuscula  :  literary  works.     Cassius  tried  many 
kinds  of  composition.    The  diminutive  is  used  by  Horace  of  his  lyrics 
in  i.  19.  35. 

4.  taciturn  :  i.e.  in  silent  thought.       reptare :  strolling.    Of  slow 
progress,  like  repere  in  Serm.  i.  5.  25,  milia  turn  .  .  .  tria  repimus. 

5.  curantem  :  meditating  on. 

6.  non  eras :  you  were  never ;  the  action  continues  into  the  pres- 
ent ;  see  Introd.  §  44.  b.         pectore  :  soul. 

7.  dedSrunt :  scanned  with  a  short  penultimate  e,  the  ancient 
quantity.    See  Introd.  §  57.        artem  fruendi  :  i.e.  the  power  of  en- 
joying the  bounty  of  the  gods. 

8.  nutricula  :  a  fond  nurse  ;  note  the  diminutive. 

9.  sapere  et  fari :  i.e.  to  think  and  to  speak  wisely. 

10.  gratia :  powerful  friends,  the  abstract  for  the  concrete,  with 
reference  to  his  relations  with  Messalla  and  his  circle ;  see  note  on 
Serm.  i.  10.  85. 

11.  mundus  victus  :  i.e.  the  means  of  living  decently;  cf.  Serm. 
ii.  2.  65,  Mundus  erit  qua  non  offendat  sordibus,  atque  In  neutram 
partem  cultus  miser. 

12.  inter,  etc. :  i.e.  amid  the  changing  fortunes  of  life. 

13.  omnem  crede  :  i.e.  believe  after  the  dawn  of  each  day  that  it 
is  your  last. 

14.  superveniet :  sc.  vitae.    With  the  thought,  cf.  Odes,  i.  9. 13  ff., 
Quid  sit  futurum  eras,  fuge  quaerere  et,  Quern  Fors  dierum  cumque 
dabit,  lucro  Appone. 

15.  me  pinguem  :  the  Epistle  closes  with  a  jest ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  1. 120, 
etc.    On  Horace's  personal  appearance,  cf.  Suet.  Vit.  Hor.  habitu  cor- 
poris  brevisfuit  atque  obesus.         bene  curata  cute  :  cf.  i.  2.  29,  in 
cute  curando,  and  the  note. 

16.  porcum:  identifying  the  person  with  that  with  which  he  is 
compared.    See  note  on  Serm.  ii.  1.  20. 


PAGE  93.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  5.  317 

EPISTLE   V. 

1.  Archiacis :  i.e.  probably  made  by  a  carpenter  called  Archias. 
Porph.  says  :  Archias  breves  lectos  fecit.    In  any  case,  cheap  unpreten- 
tious furniture  is  meant.     For  the  arrangement  of  the  couches,  see 
Outline  of  Serm.  ii.  8.         recumbere  :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  11,  Quos  inter 
Augustus  recumbens,  a  frequent  use  of  the  word. 

2.  modica  :  with  reference  to  quality  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  2,  hospitio 
modico.        holus  omne :  i.e.  a  meal  consisting  of  nothing  but  vege- 
tables ;  holus  is  object  of  cenare ;  see  Introd.  §  38.  a. 

3.  supremo  sole  :  just  as  the  sun  is  setting;  the  opposite  of  primo 
sole ;  cf.  Ovid,  Met.  ix.  93,  primo  feriente  cacumina  sole.    The  late 
hour  is  also  characteristic  of  a  modest  repast ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  8.  3,  de 
medio  potare  die,  and  the  note. 

4.  iterum  Tauro  :  sc.  consule,  in  the  second  consulship  o/(T.  Sta- 
tilius)   Taurus.    The   date  is  26  B.C.  ;   his  colleague  was  Augustus. 
diffusa:    i.e.  drawn   off  from  the    jar  (dolium)   and  sealed  up  in 
amphorae.          palustris  Minturnas :  situated  on  the  marshy  land 
about  the  mouth  of  the  Liris.    Falernian  and  Massic  wine  came  from 
the  same  neighborhood. 

5.  Petrinum  :  a  mountain,  according  to  the  Comm.  Cruq.    Porph. 
says  :  Petrinus  vicus  olim  et  locus  in  agro  Falerno. 

6.  arcesse  :   have  it  sent ;  i.e.  if  Torquatus  is  not  satisfied  with 
Horace's  wine,  and  thinks  he  has  a  better  brand,  he  is  to  have  his 
slaves  take  some  to  his  host's  house.         vel  imperium  fer  :  i.e.  leave 
the  matter  to  me  ;  put  up  with  my  directions  as  host  and  master  of  the 
feast ;  on  dominus  as  a  designation  of  the  host,  see  Serm.  ii.  8.  93. 

7.  splendet :  i.e.  have  been  cleaned  in  honor  of  your  visit.    The 
wall  about  the  hearth  and  the  pictures  of  the  Lares  became  blackened 
with  soot,  which  had  to  be  cleaned  off  from  time  to  time.         tibi :  in 
your  honor  ;  dative  of  reference. 

8.  levis  spes  :   i.e.  hopes  about  trifling  matters.  certamina 
divitiarum  :  the  struggle  for  wealth,  not  of  course  in  a  bad  sense. 

9.  Moschi :   Porph.  says  :  Moschus  hie  Pergamenus  fuit  rhetor 
notissimus.    Reus  venejicii  fuit,  cuius  causam  ex  primis  tune  oratores 
egerunt,  Torquatus  hie,  de  quo  nunc  dicit,  cuius  extat  oralio,  et  Asinius 
Pollio.        nato  Caesare  :  to  whom  this  refers  is  uncertain,  probably 
to  Augustus  ;  see  note  on  aestivam  noctem,  line  10. 

10.  veniam  somnumque  :  an  excuse  for  sleep  ;  hendiadys. 

11.  aestivam  noctem :  The  birthday  of  Augustus  fell  on  September 


318  BOOK  I.    EPISTLE  5.  [PAGE  93. 

23,  but  the  term  aestivam  noctem  may  be  used  generally  of  the  hot  sea- 
son. Some  think  that  the  reference  is  to  Julius  Caesar,  whose  birthday 
was  on  July  12,  but  Horace  uses  Caesar  of  Augustus  thirty-two  times, 
and  of  Julius  Caesar  only  twice  (Odes  i.  2.  44  ;  Serm.  i.  9.  18),  and  in 
both  cases  the  meaning  is  made  evident  by  the  context.  Caesare 
without  further  definition  would  naturally  refer  to  Augustus.  ten- 
dere :  prolong.  Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  748,  vario  noctem  sermone  trahebat 
Infelix  Dido. 

12.  fortunam :  for  the  construction,  cf.  unde  mihi  sagittas,  Serm. 
ii.  7.  116,  and  see  note. 

13.  ob  heredis   curam :    with  the  thought,  cf.  Odes,  iv.  7.  19, 
Cuncta  manus  avidas  fugient  heredis,  amico   Quae  dederis  animo  ; 
Pers.  vi.  33,  cenam  funeris  heres  Negleget  iratus,  quod  rem  curtaveris. 

14.  adsidet :  is  next  door  to,  apparently  with  reference  to  the 
seats  in  the  theatres,  etc.        flores  :  the  regular  accompaniment  of  a 
banquet  or  a  drinking  bout ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  19.  21,  Parcentes  ego  dexte- 
ras  Odi :  sparge  rosas. 

15.  vel :  if  you  like ;  the  old  injunctive  form  of  velle. 

16.  ebrietas  :  wine  ;  the  English  '  drunkenness '  is  not  an  equiva- 
lent here.        dissignat :  open ;  lit.  unseal.        operta  recludit :    cf. 
Serm.  i.  4.  89,  Condita  cum  verax  aperit  praecordia  Liber. 

17.  spes  .  .  .  ratas :   i.e.   it  makes  one  hopeful  and  confident. 
Cf.  Sen.  de  Ira,  i.  13.  3,  ebrietas  facit  protervos  et  audaces.        ad 
proelia  trudit  inertem :  cf.  Sen.  de  Ira,  i.  13.  3,  multi  meliores  ad 
ferrumfuere  male  sobrii. 

18.  addocet  artis  :  i.  e.  teaches  new  arts. 

19.  fecundi  :  in  a  double  sense,  full  and  inspiring. 

20.  contracta  ...  in  paupertate :    in  the  chains  of  poverty. 
solutum  :  free. 

21.  haec  :  the  following  duties.        idoneus  .  .  .  et  non  invitus : 
i.e.  I  am  both  able  and  willing.        imperor  :  /  charge  myself;  the 
verb  is  used  in  a  middle  sense. 

22.  toral :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  4.  84,  and  the  note. 

23.  conruget  naris :  make  you  turn  up  your  nose  ;  cf.  Pers.  iii.  86, 
multumque  torosa  iuventus  Ingeminat  tremulos  naso  crispante  cachin- 
nos.        ne  non  .  .  .  ostendat  tibi  te :  i.e.  that  you  may  be  able  to 
see  your  face  in  the  polished  metal. 

25.  foras  eliminet :  carry  across  the  threshold  of  the  dining-room. 

26.  Butram,  etc. :  persons  otherwise  unknown. 

27.  potior  puella :  i.e.  a  girl  whose  society  he  prefers  to  ours. 


PAGE  95. J  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  6.  319 

28.  umbris:  cf.  Serm.  ii.  8.  22,  and  the  note.     Torquatus  may 
bring  a  friend  or  two  if  he  likes. 

29.  sed  .   .  .  caprae:    i.e.  he  must  not  bring  too  many  umbrae. 
Caprae  =  hirci ;  cf.  Epod.  12.  5,  gravis  hirsutis  cubet  hircus  in  alis. 

31.  postico  falle  :  i.e.  slip  out  the  back  door,  and  escape  the 
client  who  is  lying  in  wait  for  you  in  the  atrium.  Postico  is  ablative 
of  the  way  by  which. 

EPISTLE   VI. 

I.  nil  admirari :  ie..to  be  indifferent  to  material  things. 

3.  hunc :  yonder,  with  a  gesture.        decedentia  .  .  .  momen- 
tis  :  the  seasons  moving  in  regular  courses. 

4.  formidine:  i.  e.  superstitious  fear. 

5.  imbuti :  touched,  affected.        quid  :  introducing  the  question, 
which  is  afterward  repeated  by  quomodo  with  a  change  of  construc- 
tion. '  Cic.  Rose.  Am.  1749,  quid  censes  ipsum  Sex.  Roscium,  quo  studio 
et  qua  intellegentia  esse  in  rusticis  rebus. 

6.  mans:    to  be  taken  with  munera,  referring  to  the  pearls  for 
which  the  Red  Sea  and  the  Persian  Gulf  were  famous. 

7.  ludicra :  in  apposition  with  plausus  and  dona ;  i.e.  such  worth- 
less trifles  as  office  and  popular  favor.        dona  :  i.e.  honores  (office). 
Quiritis  is  used  collectively. 

8.  ore:  expression,  by  which  emotions  would  be  denoted  in  the 
mimes. 

9.  bis  adversa :  the  opposite  of  these,  i.e.  poverty  and  defeat  at 
the  polls.        miratur  :  i.e.  rates  them  too  high,  the  opposite  of  nil  ad- 
mirari, a  philosophic  indifference. 

10.  pavor :  excitement;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  v.  137,  exsultantiaque  hau- 
rit  Corda  pavor  pulsans  laudumque  arrecta  cupido. 

II.  simul :  for  simul  ac;  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  36.        exterret :  startles. 
Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  xi.  806,  fugit  ante  omnes  exterritus  Arruns  Laetitia 
mixtoque  metu. 

12.  quid  ad  rem  :  sc.  interest. 

13.  spe:  expectation. 

14.  animoque  et  corpore  :  equivalent  to  sensu  et  ore,  line  8. 

16.  ultra  quam  satis  est :  i.e.  without  moderation. 

17.  i  mine  :  i.e.  if  you  can,  after  what  has  been  said.        aera : 
bronzes  ;  see  note  on  aere,  Serm.  i.  4.  28.        artis :  works  of  art. 

18.  suspice  :  admire ;  the  opposite  of  despice. 


320  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  6.  [PAGE  95. 

19.  loquentem :  as  you  speak  (as  an  orator),  a  rare  use  of  the 
word  ;  cf.  Cic.  Orat.  32.  113,  non  idem  loqui  esse  quod  dicere. 

20.  navus:  busy;  cf.  naviter,  i.  1.  24.        forum:  as  the  seat  of 
trade. 

21.  dotalibus  :  gained  by  marriage,  not  by  his  own  industry. 

22.  Mutus  :  otherwise  unknown.         indignum  :  a  shame,  in  ap- 
position with  the  following  clause.        sit :  the  subjunctive  is  due  to 
the  idea  that  the  criticism,  comes  from  others. 

24.    in  apricum :  i.e.  into  the  light  of  the  sun ;  for  the  usual  in 
apertum. 

26.  porticus  Agrippae :  a    portico  near  the  Pantheon,  built  by 
Agrippa  and  adorned  with  paintings  representing  the  expedition  of  the 
Argonauts.    It  is  mentioned  here  as  one  of  the  most  popular  lounging 
places  in  Rome.         via  Appi  —  via  Appia ;  the  most  famous  and 
fashionable  of  the  Roman  roads.     Cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  6,  and  the  note. 

27.  ire  tamen  restat,  etc. :  i.e.  you  must  one  day  die.     Cf.  Odes, 
iv.  7.  14,    ubi  decidimus,    Quo  pater  Aeneas,  quo   dives   Tullus  et 
Ancus. 

28.  si  latus,  etc. :  one  should  study  the  way  of  living  happily,  just 
as  one  would  try  to  look  out  for  one's  bodily  health.     Cf.  i.  2.  38,  Nam 
cur  Quae  laedunt  oculos  festinas  demere,  si  quid  Est  animum,  differs 
curandi  tempus  in  annum  ? 

31.  hoc  age:  give  your  attention  to  this;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  152. 
verba :  a  mere  name;  cf.  i.  17.  41,  virtus  nomen  inane  est.        putas: 
i.e.  if  you  think,  a  paratactic  condition. 

32.  lucum  ligna :  sc.  esse ;  i.e.  that  a  sacred  grove  is  but  so  much 
fire-wood.    The  expression  has  a  proverbial  ring.        cave  .  .  .  alter  : 
see  to  it  that  no  one  reaches  port  before  you;  with  the  expression,  cf. 
Odes,  i.  14.  2,  fortiter  occupa  Portum ;  and  with  the  thought,  Pers.  v. 
136,  Tolle  recens  primus  piper  e  sitiente  camelo. 

33.  Cibyratica  :  of  Cibyra,  a  commercial  city  of  Phrygia,  not  far 
from  the  Lycian  frontier.        Bitbyna  :  Bithynia  was  important  com- 
mercially, especially  in  the  lines  of  timber  and  marble  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  7. 
3,  Thyna  merce  beatum. 

34.  rotundentur :  be  rounded  off.    The  expression  is  colloquial ; 
cf.  Petr.  76,  uno  cursu  centies  sestertium  corrotundavi. 

35.  quadret :  of  a  fourth  thousand,  with  reference  to  the  four  sides 
of  a  square. 

36.  scilicet :  of  course ;  ironical. 

38.   bene  nummatum  :  a  colloquial  expression,  like  our  *  well- 


PAGE  96.  J  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  6.  321 

heeled.'        Suadela :  the  goddess  of  persuasion.    The  rich  man  will 
be  eloquent  and  successful  in  love. 

39.  aeris  :   i.e.  ready   money.          Cappadocum   rex  :   Ariobar- 
zanes,  of  whom  Cic.  ad  Alt.  vi.  1.  3,  says:  nullum  aerarium,  nullum 
vectigal  habet. 

40.  fueris  :  with  i,  the  original  quantity  of  the  perfect  subjunctive, 
originally  an  aorist  optative.     See  note  on  miscuerls,  Serm.  ii.  2.  74. 
hie  :  i.e.  like  him.        chlamydes :  to  be  used  for  a  chorus  of  warriors. 

43.  milia  quinque  :  the  point  is  that  Lucullus  was  a  genuine  rich 
man,  for  he  did  not  know  how  much  he  possessed. 

44.  tolleret:   he  might  take,  representing  the  imperative  or  an 
equivalent  jussive  subjunctive  in  the  direct  form. 

45.  exilis  :  poor;  cf.  Odes,  i.  4.  17,  domus  exilis  Plutonia.        ubi 
non  .  .  .  supersunt :  where  there  are  not  many  superfluous  things. 
et :  note  the  hyperbaton. 

46.  fallunt :  i.e.  are  forgotten  by.        prosunt  furibus  :  i.e.  they 
can  be  stolen  without  being  noticed. 

47.  The  language  of  line  2  repeated  with  ironical  force. 

48.  hoc  .  .  .  opus :  i.e.  rent  facere. 

49.  species  :  state.        gratia :  cf.  i.  4.  10. 

50.  qui  dictet  nomina :  i.e.  a  nomenclator,   whose  business  it 
was  to  inform  his  master  of  the  names  of  people  whom  he  did  not 
know,  but  wished  to  address  by  name.    Final  subjunctive.        laevum  : 
the  slave  walked  on  the  left  of  his  master ;   cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  17,  and 
the  note. 

51.  pondera :  the  reference  may  be  to  stepping-stones  in  the  streets, 
such  as  are  seen  at  Pompeii,  and  are  called  pondera  in  inscriptions ; 
some  understand  the  word  to  mean  weights  on  the  counter  of  a  shop. 

52.  multum  valet :  has  great  influence.        Fabia,  Velina :  sc. 
tribu. 

53.  curule  .  .  .  ebur :  the  sella  curulis. 

54.  f rater,  pater  :  cf.  Ps.-Quint.  Decl.  321,  quotiens  blandiri  volu- 
mus  his  qui   esse  amid  videntur,  nulla  adulatio  procedere  ultra  hoc 
nomenpotest,  quam  ut  fratres.  vocemus.    On  pater,  see  Serm.  ii.  1.  12. 

55.  adopta :  adopt  him,  by  the  use  of  the  term  pater  or  frater. 
Cf.  Spart.  Jul.  4.  1,  unumquemque,  ut  erat  aetas,  vel  patrem  vel  filium 
vel  parentem  affatus  btandissime  est. 

56.  si  ...  vivit :  i.e.  if  the  pleasures  of  the  table  are  the  greatest 
happiness.        lucet :  day  has  come  /  it  is  sunrise  ;  i.e.  it  is  time  to  be 
up  and  doing. 


322  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  7.  [PAGE  06. 

57.  piscemur,  venemur :  let  us  fish  and  hunt  —  in  the  market. 

58.  Gargilius :  a  common  name,  but  the  individual  here  referred 
to  is  otherwise  unknown. 

59.  differtum  forum  populumque :  for  Jorum  differtum  populo. 
On  di/ertum,  see  note  on  Serin,  i.  5.  3. 

60.  e  multis :  i.e.  of  the  long  train  of  mules  which  he  had  taken 
with  him. 

61.  crudi :  i.e.  with  our  last  meal  still  undigested.     Cf.  Juv.  i.  142, 
cum  tu  deponis  amictum  Turgidus  et  crudum  pavonem   in   balnea 
portas. 

62.  Caerite  cera  digni  :  i.e.  deserving  to  lose  their  citizenship. 
Cf.  Gell.  xvi.  13.  17,  primos  municipes  sine  suffragii  iure  Caerites  esse 
factos  accepimus  .  .  .  pro  sacris  bello  Gallico  receptis  custoditisque. 
Nine  '  tabulae  Caerites '  appellatae  versa  vice,  in  quas  censores  referri 
iubebant,  quos  notae  causa  suffragiis  privabant. 

63.  remigium :  the  crew,  contemptuous  for  socii ;  the  abstract  for 
the  concrete.     The  reference  is  to  the  slaying  of  the  cattle  of  Helios, 
Odyss.  xiii.  313  ff. 

65.  Mimnermus  :  an  elegiac  poet  of  Colophon,  a  contemporary  of 
Solon  (circ.  600  B.C.).  sine  amore,  etc. :  a  fragment  of  Mimner- 
mus, expressing  this  sentiment,  has  come  down  to  us. 

67.  vive,  vale:  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  110,  vive  valeque.    Horace  closes 
abruptly,  as  he  often  does.        istis  :  i.e.  than  what  has  been  told  you. 

68.  candidus  imperti :  i.e.  be  a  good  fellow  and  tell  me. 

EPISTLE   VII. 

1.  quinque  dies :  a  general  term  for  a  few  days  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  3. 
16,  quinque  diebus  nil  erat  in  loculis.     See  Introd.  §  50.        rare :  the 
form  used  by  Horace ;  ruri  is  the  earlier  form  of  the  locative.     See 
note  on  here,  Serm.  ii.  8.  2. 

2.  Sextilem :  the  sixth  month  counting  from  March,  which  was 
originally  the  beginning  of  the  year  ;  the  name  August  was  given  to  it 
in  8  B.C.,  in  honor  of  Augustus.         mendax  :  cf.  ii.  2.  25,  Expectata 
tibi  non  mittam  carmina  mendax. 

3.  sanum  recteque  valentem :   practically  synonymous ;  sound 
and  in  good  health. 

4.  quam  .  .  .  das  aegro  •.   which  you  give  me  when  I  am  sick. 
aegrotare  :  instead  of  the  usual  ne  aegrotem. 

5.  dum:    as  long  as.        ficus  prima :    the  fig  ripened  in  early 


PAGE  98.  J  BOOK    I.    EPISTLE  7.  323 

September,  the  unhealthiest  month  at  Rome.      Cf.   Odes,  in.  23.  8, 
Pomifero  grave  tempus  anno. 

6.  dissignatorem  :  the  undertaker,  who  arranged  (dissigno)  for 
funerals.        decorat :  Horace  regularly  uses  a  singular  verb  with  a 
compound  subject.    See  Introd.  §  43.  a.       lictoribus  atris  :  in  grand 
funerals  iictors  clad  in  black  and  carrying  the  fasces  marched  in  the 
procession.     They  wore  the  masks  of  such  ancestors  of  the  deceased 
as  had  filled  curule  offices.     See  note  on  imaginibus,  Serm.  i.  6.  17. 
The  Iictors  are  spoken  of  as  ornaments  of  the  dissignator,  the  leader 
in  the  procession. 

7.  pueris :  dative  of  interest.     Cf.  Mart.  x.  62.  12,  aestate  puen  si 
valent,   satis  discunt.        matercula :  fond  mother ;   cf.    nutricula, 
i.  4.  8. 

8.  officiosa  sedulitas :  i.e.  conscientiousness  in  performing  cere- 
monial duties,  such  as  paying  morning  calls,  listening  to  recitations, 
and  the  like.     Cf.  ii.  2.  67,  Hie  sponsum  vocat,  hie  auditum  scripta 
relictis  Omnibus  officiis.         opella :  petty  business ;  the  force  of  the 
diminutive.     At  this  season,  when  people  of  importance  were  for  the 
most  part  out  of  town,  the  legal  business  would  be  of  that  character. 
The  word  occurs  also  in  Lucr.  i.  1114,  pernosces  parva  perdoctus  opella. 

9.  testanienta  resignat :  i.e.  causes  death.     The  will  was  sealed 
and  deposited  in  some  safe  place,  and  was  unsealed  only  at  the  death 
of  the  maker. 

10.  bruma :  the  winter ;  lit.  the  winter  solstice,  the  shortest  day 
(*breu-ma  >  bruma,  sc.  dies).     The  idea  is  that  if  the  cold  weather 
is  early  and  severe,  Horace  will  go  to  the  shore. 

11.  sibi  parcet :  i.e.  will  take  care  of  his  health. 

12.  contractus  :  huddled-up,  a  self-explanatory  word. 

13.  cum  Zephyris  .  .  .  et  hirundine  prima  :  the  harbingers  of 
spring  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  7.  9,  frigora  mitescunt  Zephyris ;  Ovid,  Fasti,  ii. 
853,  Fallimur,  an  veris praenuntia  venit  hirundo? 

14.  quo  more:    i.e.  showing  that  he  gave  them  what  he  himself 
could  not  use.        Calaber  :    the  name  seems  to  be  used  merely  to 
localize  the  story,  though  possibly,  as  Kiessling  suggests,  it  may  be  a 
reminiscence  of  Horace's  youth. 

15.  sodes.  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  9.  41. 

16.  tolle  ;  take  with  you,  in  distinction  from  vescere.       benigne  : 
sc.  facts ;  you're  very  kind.    A  polite  form  of  refusal. 

17.  non  invisa :  i.e.  your  children  will  be  glad  if  you  take  them 
some  as  a  gift. 


324  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  7.  [PAGE  98. 

18.  tarn  teneor,  etc. :  i.e.  I  am  as  much  obliged  as  if  I  took  all  I 
could  carry. 

20.  prodigus  et  stultus  :  i.e.  only  a  wasteful  fool. 

21.  haec  seges  .  .  .  tulit :  i.e.  such  seed  bears  ingratitude.    Tulit 
is  the  gnomic  perfect ;  see  Introd.  §  44.  d. 

22.  ait  esse  paratus  :  a  Greek  construction  for  the  regular  ait  se 
esse  paratum^ 

2  ($r  •^urocti  stent  aera  lupinis ;  i.e.  he  knows  the  true  value  of 
things ;  the  seeds  of  the  lupine  (lupinis},  a  kind  of  vetch,  were  used  as 
money  (aera)  on  the  stage  ;  cf.  Plaut.  Poen.  597,  aurumst  profecto 
hie,  spectatores,  comicum :  Macerato  hoc  pingues  fiunt  auro  in  bar- 
baria  boves. 

24.  pro  :  in  proportion  to.        merentis  :  my  benefactor ;  eius  qui 
meret  ut  nemet  dignum praestem  (Kiessling). 

25.  quod  si :  i.e.  if  you  require  constant  personal  attendance  on 
my  part.         reddes :  the  future  as  a  mild  imperative  ;  so  below  in 
line  27. 

26.  latus:  chest.        nigros  .  .  .  capillos:  cf.  i.  20.  24.     Horace's 
forehead  had  broadened  from  loss  of  hair.     On  a  narrow  forehead  as  a 
mark  of  beauty,  cf.  Odes,  i.  33.  5,  insignem  tenui  fronte  Lycorida. 

27.  dulce  loqui :  cf.  Odes,  i.  22.  23,  Lalagen  .  .  .  dulce  loquentem. 
The  infinitive  is  used  as  a  noun,  object  of  redde ;  see  Introd.  §  46.  d. 

28.  Cinarae  :  mentioned  by  Horace  also  in  Odes  iv.  1.  4  ;  iv.  13. 
21  ;  Epist.  i.  14.  33.     He  seems  to  have  had  a  real  attachment  for  her. 

29.  volpecula:   the  manuscript  reading.     Bentley's  conjecture, 
nitedula,  is  brilliant  but  unnecessary.    The  diminutive  is  colloquial 
usage.    See  Introd.  §  55.  e. 

30.  cumeram :  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  53,  and  the  note.        pasta :  with 
middle  force. 

32.  mustela  :  the  weasel,  '  mouse-catcher.'        procul :    near  by, 
modifying  an  implied  participle. 

33.  cavum  :  i.e.  the  hole  by  which  it  had  entered  the  bin. 

34.  compellor:    am  called  to  account.        hac  imagine:  i.e.  by 
this  simile.         resigno  :  give  back ;  used  of  paying  back  something 
given  as  a  gift  or  loan  ;   cf.  Odes,  iii.  29.  54,  resigno  quae  dedit 
(Fortuna). 

35.  somnum  plebis :  cf.  Ode*,  iii.  1.21,  Somnus  agrestium  Lenis 
virorum  non  humiles  domos  fastidit.     Horace  means  to  say  that  he 
practises  what  he  preaches,  and  does  not  praise  frugal  living  when 
his  own  stomach  is  full  of  dainties, 


PAGE  99.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  7.  325 

36.  Arabum  :  their  wealth  was  proverbial.      Cf.  Odes,  iii.  24.  1, 
intactis  opulentior  Thesauris  Arabum. 

37.  verecundum :  sc.  me  ;  my  modesty. 

38.  audisti :   you  have  been  addressed  as.     Cf.  Serin,  ii.  6,  20, 
Matutine  pater  sen  lane  libentius  audis ;  and  the  idiom  bene  audire  a, 
e.g.  Cic.  de  Fin.  iii.  17.  57,  bene  audire  a  parentibus.        verbo  :  abla- 
tive of  degree  of  difference. 

39.  reponere  :  equivalent  to  resignare  ;  cf.  line  34  above. 

40.  Telemachus  :  when  declining  a  gift  of  three  horses  from  Mene- 
laus ;  see  Odyss.  iv.  601  ff.     Horace's  words  in  lines  41-43  are  a  para- 
phrase of  the  passage.        patientis  :  a  translation  of  the  Greek  TroXi/- 
rXas.       Ulixi :  genitive,  instead  of  the  regular  but  less  common  Ulixis. 

43.  tibi :  with  apta  and  relinquam,  dirb  KOLVOV.    See  Introd.  §  42. 

44.  regia  Roma :  as  mistress  of  the  world.     Cf.  Odes,  iv.  14.  44, 
tutela  praesens  Italiae  dominaeque  Romae. 

45.  vacuum  :  quiet,  peaceful.     Cf.  ii.  2. .81,  vacuas  Athenas.     The 
meaning  'free  from  care'  (cf.  Odes,  i.  32.  1)  is  transferred  from  per- 
sons to  places.        imbelle  :  peaceful. 

46.  Philippus:   L.  Marcius  Philippus,  consul  in  91  B.C.,  distin- 
guished for  his  energy  (hence  strenuus}  and  wit.    He  was  an  able 
orator.     Cf.  Cic.  Brut.  47.  173,  duobus  summis,  Crasso  et  Antonio, 
L.  Philippus  proximus  accedebat,  sed  longo  intervallo  tamen  proximus. 
He  is  classed  with  Lucullus  and  Hortensius,  as  regards  luxury,  by 
Varro,  E.  R.  iii.  3.  10,  quis  enim  propter  nobilitatem  ignorat  piscinas 
Philippi,  Hortensi,  Lucullorum. 

47.  officiis :  see  note  on  officiosa  sedulitas,  line  8  above.        octa- 
vam  circiter  horam :   i.e.  at  about  two  o'clock.      The  exact  time 
differed  according  to  the  season  ;  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  5. 23.     Business 
was  usually  over  with  the   fifth   hour;    cf.  Mart.  iv.  8,  In  quintam 
varios  extendit  Roma  labores:  Sexta  quies  lassis,  septima  finis  erit. 

48.  Carinas:    a  fashionable    quarter   in   Rome,    where    Quintus 
Cicero,  Pompey,  and  other  distinguished  Romans  had  their  houses. 
It  was  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Esquiline,  where  the  church  of 
S.  Pietro  in  Vincoli  now  stands.     It  was  not  far  from  the  Forum,  but 
the  approach  was  steep  and  Philippus  was  old. 

49.  ut  aiunt :  cf.  i.  6.  40. 

50.  adrasum :   who  had  been  shaved.         umbra :    here  in  the 
sense  of  shop  or  booth. 

51.  proprios:    that  service  was   usually  done    by  the   barber. 
leniter:  quietly. 


326  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  7.  [PAGE  91). 

52.  nonlaeve:  skilfully;  litotes.        iussa  .  .  .  accipiebat:  i.e. 
he  was  his  regular  pedisequus. 

53.  abi,  quaere :  a  paratactic  arrangement  not  uncommon  with 
the  imperative.         unde  domo  :  i.e.  what  his  home  is  ;  domo  is  abla- 
tive of  the  place  from  which. 

54.  quo  patre  quove  patrono :  i.e.  whether  he  is  freeborn  or  not ; 
if  not,  he  had  no  father  according  to  law,  and  the  name  of  hispatronus 
is  wanted. 

55.  Volteium  Menam  :  the  name  shows  that  he  was  a  freedman. 
When  a  slave  became  free,  he  adopted  the  gentile  name  of  his  former 
master,  keeping  his  own  name,  which  was  usually  of  Greek  origin,  as 
a  cognomen. 

56.  praeconem :  an  auctioneer,- as  is  shown  by  line  65.    The  word 
praeco  has  various  meanings,  as  applied  to  trades.        sine  crimine : 
i.e.  with  an  unblemished  record. 

57.  properare:  this  and  the  following  infinitives  depend  on  notum. 
loco :  on  occasion,  i.e.  at  the  proper  time.     Locative  ablative  with 
temporal  force ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  12.  28,  dulce  est  desipere  in  loco.       ces- 
sare :  i.e.  to  take  recreation  ;  cf.  ii.  2.  183,  cur  alter  fratrum  cessare 
.  .  .  praeferat.        uti :  sc.  quaesitis. 

58.  parvis :  humble.        lare  certo  :  i.e.  a  home  of  his  own. 

59.  ludis:   the  theatrical  performances  and  games  of  the  circus. 
post  decisa  negotia  Campo :  i.e.  athletic  exercises  in  the  Campus 
Martius  after  business  hours.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  8.  4  ff. 

60.  libet :  sc.  mihi. 

61.  non  sane:  a  strong  negative.         credere  .  .  .  mirari:   his- 
torical infinitives. 

62.  benigne :  cf.  line  16,  and  the  note. 

63.  neget:  subjunctive  in  an  indignant  question.        improbus: 
the  impudent  wretch. 

64.  neglegit  aut  horret:  i.e.  he  has  the  assurance  to  scorn  the 
invitation  or  he  is  afraid  to  accept.        mane  :  the  next  morning. 

65.  tunicate :  the  mark  of  the  poorer  people  ;   cf.  Tac.  Dial.  7, 
vulgus  imperitum  et  tunicatus  hie  populus.        popello :  the  diminu- 
tive  implies   contempt.        scruta:    second-hand   articles;    cf.  Lucil. 
1062,  d,  L.,  Quidni?  et  scruta  quidem  utvendat  scrutarius  laudat,  Prae- 
fractam  strigilem,  soleam  improbus  dimidiatam. 

66.  occupat :    i.e.  he  greets  him  first.     Cf.  Serm.  i.  9.  6,  '  num 
quid  vis  ?  '  occupo.    For  the  etiquette  in  such  a  case,  cf.  Mart.  iii.  95. 
Iff.:  — 


PAGE  100.]  BOOS*^g  327 

Numquam  dices  have,  sed  reddis,  Naevole,  semper, 
Quod  prior  et  corvus  dicere  saepe  solet. 
Cur  hoc  expectas  a  me,  rogo,  Naevole,  dicas : 
Nam  puto  nee  melior,  Naevole,  nee  prior  es. 

67.  excusare:  pleads  as  his  excuse,  for  not  accepting  the  invita- 
tion.    Historical  infinitive.        mercennaria  vincla :  i.e.  the  necessity 
for  following  his  trade. 

68.  quod  non  .  .  .  venisset :  i.e.  had  not  made  an  early  morning 
call,  to  return  thanks  for  the  invitation.     Subjunctive  on  account  of 
the  implied  indirect  discourse  ;  so  providisset. 

69.  providisset:  had  not  seen  (and  greeted)  him  first,  as  was  due 
the  superior  from  the  inferior ;  see  note  on  line  66.         sic  ...  si : 
on  condition  that. 

70.  ut  libet :  if  you  please. 

71.  i  :  go  ahead  I        rem :  cf.  i.  1.  65,  and  the  note. 

72.  dicenda  tacenda:  i.e.  he  spoke  freely  and  without  restraint. 
Cf.  Enn.  ap.  Gell.  xii.  4.  4,  cut  .  .  .  cuncta  malaque  et  bona  dictu 
evomeret. 

74.  occultum:  hidden,  by  the  bait;  cf.  opertum  hamum,  i.  16.  51. 

75.  mane  cliens:   i.e.  appearing  regularly  to  make  his  morning 
call.        certus  conviva :  a  regular  guest  at  the  cena.     Cf.  lare  certo, 
line  58. 

76.  rura  :  accusative  of  the  goal,  like  rus;  the  plural  is  not  often 
so  used.        indictis  .  .  .  Latinis :  sc.  feriis.     They  were  held  on  a 
day  which  was  not  fixed,  but  was  appointed  and  announced  each  year  ; 
hence  indictis.    They  were  celebrated  on  the  Alban  Mount  in  honor 
of  Jupiter  Latiaris  at  the  end  of  April  or  the  beginning  of  May,  and 
were  the  occasion  of  a  iustitium,  or  suspension  of  legal  business. 
Hence  Philippus  had  nothing  to  detain  him  in  the  city. 

77.  impositus  mannis:  i.e.  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  manni,  or 
Celtic  horses. 

78.  videt:  i.e.  the  change  in  Volteius. 

79.  dum  .  .  .  quaerit :  may  be  translated  by  a  present  participle. 
requiem:  recreation,  i.e.  amusement.     The  form  requietem  is  some- 
times used. 

80.  septem  .  .  .  sestertia :  7000  sesterces  (about  $350). 

82.  ultra  quam  satis  est :  i.e.  with  too  many  details. 

83.  nitido :  referring  to  his  dress  and  bodily  condition ;  cf.  Serm. 
ii.  2.  128,  nituisti.    Here  the  contrast  is  between  the  eiegaat  townsman 
and  the  rustic  farmer. 


328  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  8.  [PAGE  100. 

84.  crepat  mera:  talks  of  nothing  but.    Sulcos  and  vineta  are 
accusative  of  the  inner  object ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  13,  reges  atque  tetrar- 
chas,  Omnia  magna  loquens,  and  see  Introd.  §  38.  b.        ulmos :   on 
which  to  grow  vines,  as  is  the  custom  still  in  Italy  ;  cf.  i.  16.  3,  amicta 
vitibus  ulmo. 

85.  immoritur  studiia  :  i.e.  he  nearly  kills  himself  with  work. 
Studiis  is  dative  ;   cf.  Quint,  ix.  3.  72,  qui  se  immoriturum  legationi 
dixerat. 

86.  morbo  .  .  .  capellae :  goats  are  especially  liable  to  sickness. 
Cf.  Varro,  E.  R.  ii.  3.  5,  capras  sanas   sanus    nemo   promittit ;  nun- 
quam  enim  sine  febri  sint. 

.  87.  mentita  seges :  sc.  est,  and  for  the  personification,  cf.  Odes, 
iii.  1.  30,  fundus  mendax.  enectus :  the  word  chosen  (it  usually 
means  killed  by  violence)  seems  to  indicate  that  he  worked  his  ox  to 
death. 

88.  media  de  nocte:  i.e.  without  waiting  for  daylight;  arripuit 
further  points  to  a  sudden  resolution.  caballum :  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  59, 
and  the  note. 

90.  scabrum  intonsumque :  unkempt  and  unshaven,  a  contrast 
to  his  appearance  as  described  in  line  50. 

91.  durus  attentusque:   cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  82,   asper  et  attentus 
quaesitis. 

92.  pol :  by  Pollux,  an  expression  common  in  Plautus  ;  cf.  ii.  2. 138. 

93.  ponere:   for  imponere ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  42,  isti  Errori  nomen 
virtus  posuisset  honestum  ;  and  see  Introd.  §  35.  b. 

94.  quod  :  wherefore.         genium  :  your  guardian  spirit ;  cf.  Ter. 
Andr.  289,  Quod  ego  per  hanc  te  dextram  oro  et  genium  tuom. 

96.   qui  semel,  etc. :  the  moral  of  the  story. 

98.  modulo  ac  pede  :  foot-rule.  verum  est :  it  is  right ;  cf. 
Serm.  ii.  3.  312. 

EPISTLE   VIII. 

1.  Celso  .  .  .  Albinovano :  the  cognomen  precedes  the  gentile 
name,  as  in  i.  2.  1.         gaudere  et  bene  rem  gerere:  i.e.  greeting 
and  best  wishes.     Cf.  Plaut.  Trin.  772,  salutem  ei  nuntiet  verbis  pa- 
tris :  Ilium  bene  gerere  rem  et  valere  et  vivere. 

2.  rogata  :  sc.  a  me;  at  my  request.        comiti:  a  member  of  the 
staff;  cf.  i.  3.  6,  and  the  note.         sciibae  :  a  private  secretary,  not 
an  official  scriba.        Neronis  :  i.e.  Tiberius  ;  cf.  i.  3.  2,  and  the  note. 

3.  quaeret :    sc.  Albinovanus.        minantern  -.    boasting  that  he 


PAGE  102.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  9.  329 

would  do,  a  poetical  use  of  the  word ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  9,  Atqui  vultus 
erat  multa  et  praedara  minantis. 

4.  baud  quia  :  colloquial  and  post- Augustan  for  non  quo.        gran- 
do  ...  vitis :   a  common  disaster ;   cf.   Odes,  iii.  1 .  29,  verberatae 
grandine  vineae. 

5.  momorderit :  used  of  cold  in  Serm.  ii.  6.  45,  Matutina  parum 
cantos  iam  frigora  mordent. 

6.  longinquis  .  .  .  agris  :  in  summer  cattle  were  sent  to  the  plains 
of  Lucania  to  pasture.     Cf.  Epod.  1.  27,  pecusve  Calabris  ante  sidus 
fervidum  Lucana  mutat  pascuis. 

10.  cur  .   .   .  properent:  a  rhetorical  question  in  the   indirect 
form,  equivalent  in  force  to  a  causal  clause.         arcere :  for  prohi- 
bere  j  cf.  i.  1.  31,  Xodosa  corpus  nolis  prohibere  cheragra. 

11.  sequar  .  .  .  credam :  depending  on  quia,  line  7. 

12.  ventosus  :  fickle  as  the  wind.    With  the  general  thought,  cf. 
Serm.  ii.  7.  28,  Romae  rus  optas,  absentem  rusticus  urbem  Tollis  ad 
astra  levis.        Tibur  :  according  to  Suetonius  (Vit.  Horat.},  Horace 
had  an  estate  at  Tibur  :  vixit  plurimum  in  secessu  ruris  sui  Sabini  aut 
Tiburtini,  domusque  eius  ostenditur  circa  Tiburti  luculum.     Cf.  also 
i.  6.  45,  sed  vacuum  placet  Tibur. 

13.  quo  pacto  rem  gerat  et  se  :  i.e.  how  he  succeeds  and  fares. 

14.  iuveni  :  i.e.  Tiberius,  who  was  at  this  time  twenty-three  years 
old. 

15.  gaudere :  to  express  your  pleasure,  i.e.  to  congratulate  him. 
subinde :    then;    i.e.  afterward;    not  necessarily  immediately,  but 
when  the  occasion  offered. 

16.  auriculis :  his  dear  ears ;  note  the  force  of  the  diminutive. 

EPISTLE   IX. 

1.  Septimius :  doubtless  the  friend  addressed  in  Odes  ii.  6. 
Claudi :  Tiberius  Claudius  Nero.  nimirum  :  of  course ;  ironical. 
unus :  i.e.  better  than  any  one  else ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  24,  domos  merca- 
rier  unus  Cum  lucro  noram. 

3.  scilicet :  forsooth,  emphasizing  prece  cogit.        tradere  :  intro- 
duce ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  9.  47,  hunc  hominem  velles  si  tradere. 

4.  dignum :  as  worthy.        honesta :  the  neuter  is  more  general 
than  the  masculine  would  have  been,  everything  honorable.        Nero- 
nis :  of  a  Nero,  i.e.  of  a  man  of  Nero's  character. 

5.  fungi  :  sc.  me. 


330  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  10.  [PAGE  102. 

6.  valdius  :  better;  cf.  Ars  Poet.  320,  fabula  nullius  veneris  .  .  . 
valdius  oblectat  populum.     This  shorter  (colloquial)    form   is  much 
less  common  than  validius. 

8.  mea  finxisse  minora:  i.e.  pretended  my  influence  was  less 
than  it  really  was. 

9.  commodus  :  obliging. 

10.  maioris  .  .  .  culpae :  i.e.  that  suggested  in  lines  8-9. 

11.  frontis  urbanae :  i.e.  the  assurance  of  the  man  of  the  world, 
as  contrasted  with  pudor  rusticus.        descend! :  /  have  had  recourse. 
Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  v.  782,  preces  descendere  in  omnes.        praemia :  privi- 
leges.    Cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  35,  insani  praemia  scribae. 

13.  scribe  tui  gregis :  enroll  in  your  company.  For  this  use  of 
the  genitive  of  the  whole,  cf.  Odes,  in.  13.  13,  Fies  nobilium  tu  quoque 
fontium.  Grex  is  here  synonymous  with  the  cohors  of  i.  3.  6  ;  Serm. 
i.  7.  23.  For  a  similar  use  of  the  word,  cf.  i.  4.  16,  Epicuri  de  grege 
porcum.  fortem  bonumque  :  a  conventional  phrase  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii. 
5.  64,  forti  Corano  ;  Odes,  iv.  4.  29,  Fortes  creantur  fortibus  et  bonis. 

EPISTLE   X. 

1.  iubemus  :  the  so-called  '  plural  of  modesty.' 

2.  amatores :  referring  to  Horace  alone,  but  plural  on  account  of 
iubemus. 

3.  dissimiles  :  the  genuine  plural,  agreeing  with  nos,  subject  of 
adnuimus.        cetera:    accusative  of  specification.        gemelli:    di- 
minutive of  affection. 

4.  negat :    parenthetical  with  a  change  of  construction.    As  to 
their  dislikes  they  agree  perfectly,  but  in  their  likes  there  is  the  one 
difference,  which  is  the  subject  of  the  Epistle. 

5.  noti :  well-acquainted. 

7.  circumlita  :  the  word  is  used  because  the  moss  is  thought  of  as 
giving  color  to  the  stones,  as  paint  would. 

8.  quid  quaeris  :  in  short,  a  common  phrase  in  Cicero's  letters,  in 
force  very  much  like  quid  multa.        vivo :  I  really  live,  contrasted 
with  mere  existing.         regno  -.  am  king.        ista  :  the  demonstrative 
pronoun  of  the  second  person,  looking   forward  to  effertis,  and  also 
with  a  touch  of  contempt. 

9.  rumore  secundo :  with  shouts  of  approval,  a  common  expres- 
sion ;  a  sort  of  poetic  formula.     Cf.  Enn.  Ann.  260,  Mox  auferre  domos 
populi  rumore  secundo. 


PAGE  103.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  10.  331 

10.  liba  recuso  :  the  priest's  slave  was  fed  so  much  on  sacrificial 
cakes,  that  he  became  tired  of  them.     As  usual  Horace  identifies  him- 
self with  the  object  of  his  comparison. 

11.  pane:  ablative  with  egeo ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  22.  2.     Horace  uses  the 
genitive  in  Serm.  i.  1.  59 ;  i.  4.  118,  etc.        iam :  modifying  potiore, 
which  has  come  to  be  preferable. 

12.  naturae  convenienter :  in  harmony  with  nature;  cf.  Serm. 
i.  1.  50.    Naturae  illustrates  the  use  of  the  dative  with  adverbs  derived 
from  verbs  or  adjectives  which  govern  the  dative ;  cf.  cui  non  con- 
veniet,  line  42  below. 

13.  ponendaeque  domo :    dative  of   the  gerundive,  expressing 
purpose.     Domui  is  the  more  common  form  of  the  dative,  but  appears 
seldom  in  poetry. 

15.  plus  tepeant  hiemes :  not  that  the  winter  was  less  severe  in 
the  country,  but  the  country  house  was  kept  warm  and  comfortable. 
Cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  10,  tepido  villula  tecto. 

16.  leniat  .  .  .  leonis  :  i.  e.  where  the  summer  is  cooler.     The  sun 
enters  the  constellation  of  the  Lion  July  23d,  and  at  about  the  same 
time  the  Dog-star  rises.     The  Lion  is  represented  as  roused  to  fury  by 
the  heat  of  the  sun. 

18.  divellat :  interrupts,  instead  of  the  more  usual  abrumpat. 

19.  Libycis  .  .  .  lapillis  :   referring  to  mosaic  pavements.    The 
Numidian  marble  was  a  favorite  one.     The  pavements  were,  of  course, 
made  of  bits  of  marble  of  different  colors  and  kinds,  but  Horace,  as 
usual,  takes  a  special  example.     The  pavements  were  often  sprinkled 
with  perfumes,  but  even  then  did  not  smell  so  sweet  as  the  grass. 

20.  vicis  :  the  streets,  cf.  Serm.  i.9.  13,  cum  ille  .  .  .  vicos,  urbem 
laudaret.        plumbum :  the  lead  pipes  in  which  the  water  was  car- 
ried from  the  reservoirs  to  the  tanks  (lacus}. 

21.  trepidat :  cf.  Odes,  ii.  3. 12,  quid  obliquo  laborat  Lympha  fugax 
trepidare  cursum. 

22.  nempe :  why  I       varias  :  i.e.  of  variegated  marbles,  such  as 
the  Phrygian.         nutritur  silva :  even  in  the  city  one  tries  to  counter- 
feit the  beauties  of  nature ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  10.  5,  nemus  Inter  pulchra 
satum  tecta. 

23.  longos    prospicit    agros :    an    example    is    the    house    of 
Maecenas ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  29.  5  ff. 

24.  expelles :  paratactic  use  of  the  future,  with  conditional  force. 
For  the  expression,  cf.  Catull.  105,  Mentula  conatur  Pipleum  scandere 
montem  :  Musae  furcillis  praecipitem  eiciunt. 


332  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  10.  [PAGE  103. 

25.  mala  .  .  .  fastidia :  perverse  contempt. 

26.  Sidonio  .  .  .  ostro :   the  genuine  costly  Phoenician  purple, 
known  variously  as  Sidonian  and  Tyrian.     Dative  with  contendere. 
contendere  :  to  compare,    so  as  to   distinguish  the  real   from  the 
imitation. 

27.  Aquinatem  .  .  .  fucum :    a  kind  of   lichen  from  which   a 
purple  dye  was  extracted.    The  business  seems  to  have  been  carried 
on  at  Aquinurn,  but  we  have  no  other  mention  of  it. 

28.  propiusve  medullis  :  closer  to  his  heart;  i.e.  which  will  more 
nearly  affect  his  interests. 

29.  vero  distinguere  falsum  :  in  moral  questions,  contrasted  with 
the  material  one  just  mentioned  ;  vero  is  ablative  of  separation. 

30.  plus  nimio :  excessively,  far  too  much.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  18.  15, 
tollens  vacuom  plus  nimio  Gloria  verticem. 

31.  quatient :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  4,  mente  quatit  solida ;  and  with  the 
general  sentiment,  Odes,  ii.  10.        mirabere  :  with  the  sentiment,  cf. 
that  of  i.  6. 

33.  reges :  the  rich,  as  is  clear  from  paupere  tecto.    Cf.  Serm.  i.  2. 
86.        praecurrere  :  as  in  a  race  ;   cf.  Serm.  i.  7.  8,  Barros  ut  equis 
praecurreret  albis. 

34.  cervus  equum  :  according  to  Aristotle,  Rhet.  ii.  20,  this  fable 
was  invented  by  Stesichorus,  to  warn  the  people  of  Himera  against 
putting  themselves  in  the  power  of  Phalaris. 

35.  minox  :  the  loser,  i.e.  the  horse. 

36.  opes  :  help,  strictly  '  material  resources '  ;  cf.  Cic.  ad  Alt.  ix. 
16,  (Caesar)   iam   'opes'  meas,  non  ut  superioribus  litteris  ^opem"1 
expectat. 

39.  veritus :    through  fear  of.        metallis  :    riches,   lit.   mines, 
which  were  one  of  the  principal  sources  of  wealth  to  the  Romans. 

40.  improbus  :  i.e.  as  he  richly  deserves. 

41.  aeternum  :  for  ever ;    accusative  of  the  inner  object  with 
serviet.     Cf.  Virg.   Aen.  vi.  617,   sedet  aeternumque  sedebit  Infelix 
Theseus.        nesciet :  future,  looking  forward  to  the  time  of  serviet. 

42.  cui  non  conveniet,    etc.  :   the  sentence  is  condensed,  the 
thought  being :  a  man  whose  property  is  not  suited  to  his  condition  in 
life  will  be  like  a  man  with  a  badly  fitting  shoe,  which  will  trip  him  up 
if  it  is  too  large,  and  gall  him  if  it  is  too  tight.         olim :  cf.  Serm.  i. 
1.  25,  and  the  note. 

44.   laetus :  if  you  are  contented  and  happy  ;  a  condensed  expres- 
sion for  si  laetus  sorte  tua  vives,  vives  sapienter. 


PAGE  104.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  11.  333 

45.  nee  dimittes :  and  do  not  let  me  go ;  the  future  in  a  mild 
command.        incastigatum  :  a  word  coined  by  Horace. 

46.  cessare  :  i.e.  to  take  a  proper  amount  of  rest  and  recreation. 
Cf.  i.  7.  57. 

47.  imperat  aut  servit:  is  either  master  or  slave;  cf.  Sen.  de 
Vita  Beat.  26.  1.  divitiae  enim  apud  sapientem  virum  in  servitute  sunt, 
apud  stultum  in  imperio. 

48.  digna :    i.e.   which   ought  by   right.         sequi    funem  :    the 
metaphor  is  from  leading  an  animal ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  7.  20,  Qui  iam  con- 
tento  iam  laxo  fune  laborat.     Tortum  seems  to  mean  strong,  well 
twisted,  and  so  is  not  altogether  colorless. 

49.  dictabam :  the  epistolary  imperfect ;  as   Horace  began  his 
letter  somewhat  after  the  conventional  manner,  so  he  closes.        putre  : 
crumbling.        Vacunae :  a  Sabine  goddess,  whose  name,  of  uncer- 
tain meaning,  Horace  connects,  seriously  or  humorously,  with  vaco 
vacuus,  etc. 

50.  non  simul  esses :  that  you  were  not  with  me,    a  colloquial 
expression ;  cf.  Cic.  ad  Att.  vi.  2.  8,  scribis  morderi  te  interdum,  quod 
non  simul  sis.    The  subjunctive  represents   Horace's  thought  when 
he  wrote  the  letter,  viewed  from  the  time  when  the  letter  was  received. 

EPISTLE   XI. 

1.  quid  tibi  visa :    sc.  est,  how  did  you  like  ?    For  the  neuter 
quid,  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  55,  dixere  quid  essem.        Bullati :  otherwise  un- 
known,       nota :  famous ;  Lesbos  was  especially  noted  as  the  home 
of  Alcaeus  and  Sappho. 

2.  concinna  :  trim,  of  the  elegance  of  the  buildings  and  the  regu- 
larity of  the  city.        regia  :  capital,  royal  abode. 

3.  maiora  minorave  fama  :  i.e.  did  they  come  up  to  your  expec- 
tations ? 

4.  cunctane  .  .  .  sordent  ?  i.e.  are  they  all  inferior  ?        prae  : 
in  comparison  icith. 

5.  venit  in  votum  :  i.e.  would  you  wish  to  live  in.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  6. 
1,  hoc  erat  in  votis. 

6.  Lebedum  :  a  small  town  on  the  coast  between  Smyrna  and 
Colophon.    The  point  is,  do  you  find  any  place,  however  insignificant, 
attractive    after   the  discomforts  of    travel  ?        odio    maris  atque 
viarum :  cf.  Odes,  ii.  6.  7,  Sit  modus  lasso  maris  et  viarum. 

7.  Gabiis  .  .  .  Fidenis:  these  two  towns,   important  places  in 


334  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  11.  [PAGE  104. 

early  times,  had,  with  Ulubrae  (line  30  below),  become  typical  exam- 
ples of  deserted  cities.  Of.  Juv. x.  99  ff.,  Hums,  qui  trahitur,  praetextam 
sumere  mavis,  An  Fidenarum  Gabiorumque  esse  potestas  Et  de  men- 
sura  ius  dicere,  vasa  minora  Frangere  pannosus  vacuis  aedilis  Ulubris. 

8.  vellena:  /  should  be  glad ;  potential  subjunctive. 

9.  et :  note  the  hyperbaton. 

10.  Neptunum  .  .  .  spectare  :  cf.  Lucr.  ii.  1  f.  Suave,  mart  magno 
turbantibus  aequora  ventis,  E  terra  magnum  alterius  spectare  laborem. 

11.  Capua  Romam  :  by  the  Appian  Way ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  6. 

12.  in  caupona  vivere  :   although  an   inn   may  be  a  delightful 
haven  of  rest  under  the  circumstances,  he  would  not  wish  to  spend  his 
whole  life  in  one. 

13.  frigus  collegit :  has  been  thoroughly  chilled.        furnos  :  cf. 
Serm.  i.  4.  37,  and  the  note.    A  man  who  was  cold  might  well  take 
refuge  in  a  public  bakery  or  in  a  bath,  but  would  not  be  contented  to 
remain  there  forever. 

14.  plene :  to  the  full. 

16.  trans  Aegaeum  .  .  .  vendas  :  i.e.  the  merchant  does  not 
sell  his  ship  and  remain  on  the  other  side  of  the  Aegean  because  he 
has  had  a  stormy  passage. 

17.  incolumi :  a  healthy  man  •  dative  governed  by  facit;  cf.  Serm. 
i.  1.  63.        Rhodos  et  Mytilene  :  cf.  Odes,  i.  7.  1.         facit  quod: 
are  what ;  lit.  do  to  him  what. 

18.  paenula  :  a  rough  heavy  cloak,  worn  in  cold  or  rainy  weather. 
The  Eastern  resorts  are  as  little  suited  to  a  man  in  sound  health  as 
such  a  cloak  would  be  in  the  heat  of  summer.         campestre :   sc. 
velamentum,  a  leather  apron  worn  when  exercising  in  the  Campus ; 
cf.  Aug.  Civ.  Dei,  xiv.  17,  campestria  Latinum  verbum  est,  sed  ex  eo 
dictum,  quod  iuvenes,  qui  exercebantur  in  Campo,  pudenda  operiebant. 
This,  Horace  says,  would  be  an  inappropriate  dress  in  cold  weather. 

19.  Tiberis  :  i.e.  swimming  in  the  Tiber,  a  favorite  form  of  exer- 
cise ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  8.        caminus :  whence  our  word  '  chimney,'  a 
kind  of  stove  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  5.  81. 

20.  dum  licet,  etc.  :  while  one  may  and  while  fortune  smiles  ;  i.e. 
as  long  as  one  is  incolumis  (cf.  line  17). 

21.  absens :  i.e.  from  a  distance.     Note  the  emphatic  position  of 
this  word  and  of  Romae. 

23.  in  annum  :  cf.  i.  2.  39,  differs  curandi  tempus  in  annum  ? 

24.  vixisse  .  .  .  dicas  :  cf.  vivo,  i.  10.  8,  and  the  note. 

26.   arbiter  :  which  commands,  as  we  speak  of  a  place  command- 


PAGE  106.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  12.  335 

ing  a  fine  view ;  with  the  general  sense,  cf.  Odes,  i.  3.  15,  arbiter 
Hadriae. 

28.  strenua  inertia  :  oxymoron  ;   cf.  Plin.  Epist.  ix.    6.  4,  otio- 
sissimae  occupationes.        navibus  atque  quadrigis  :  i.e.  by  travel  on 
land  and  sea.     Perhaps,  as  Kiessling  suggests,  there  is  in  quadrigis  a 
reference  to  the  metaphor  in  Serm.  i.  1.  112. 

29.  hie:  at  home. 

30.  Ulubris  :  an  obscure  village  in  the  Pomptine  Marshes.     See 
note  on  Gabiis  .  .  .  Fidenis,  line  7. 

EPISTLE   XII. 

2.  recte  fmeris:  i.e.  if  you  know  how  to  enjoy  them  to  the  full. 
Cf.  i.  6.  29,  recte  vivere.        non  est  ut :  it  is  not  possible  that ;  cf. 
Odes,  iii.  1.  9.  est,  ut  viro  vir  latins  ordinet  Arbusta  sulcis. 

3.  ab  love :  the  only  case  of  ab  before  a  consonant  in  the  Serm. 
and  Epist.         tolle :  away  with.      Cf.   Odes,  ii.  5.  9,  tolle  cupidem 
immitis  uvae. 

7.  in  medio  positorum :  what  is  at  hand;  the  genitive  is  gov- 
erned by  abstemius  ;  a  Greek  construction  ;  see  Introd.  §  40.  b. 

8.  urtica:  nettle;  used  as  food.        ut:  though. 

9.  liquidus  Fortunae  rivus  :  the  Pactolus,  which  had  become 
proverbial.     Cf.  Epod.  15.  19,  Sis  pecore  et  multa  dives  tellure  licebit 
Tibique  Pactolus  fluat. 

10.  vel  quia  :  i.e.  you  will  live  economically  from  a  natural  love 
of  it,  or  because  you  think  it  right.        nescit  =  nequit. 

12.  Democriti  :  Democritus  of  Abdera,  a  contemporary  of  Soc- 
rates, called  'the  laughing   philosopher.'     Cicero  says  of    him    (de 
Fin.  v.  29.  87),  certe  ut  quam  minime  a  cogitationibus  abduceretur, 
patrimonium  neglexit,  agros  deseruit  incultos. 

13.  peregre  est :  is  abroad. 

14.  inter:  in  the  midst  of;  cf.   i.  4.   12,    Inter  spem  curamque, 
timores  inter  et  iras.        scabiem  :  cf.  Cic.  de  Leg.  i.  17.  47,  quae  na- 
tura  bona  sunt,  quia  dulcedine  hac  et  scabie  carent,  non  cernunt  satis. 

15.  nil  parvum  sapias  :  i.e.  you  follow  no  petty  philosophy  ;  par- 
vum  is  accusative  of  the  inner  object.        adhuc  :  so  far.         sublimia  : 
celestial  themes,  such  as  are  mentioned  below. 

16.  compescant :  control;  cf.  Odes,  i.  16.  22,  compesce  mentem. 
temperet :  cf.  Odes,  i.  12.  15,  Qui  mare  ac  terras  variisque  mundum 
Temperat  horis. 


336  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  13.  [PAGE  106. 

17.  stellae  :  the  planets.        sponte  sua  iussaene  :  i.e.  whether 
they  are  endowed  with  intelligence,  and  control  themselves,  or  are 
ruled  by  mechanical  laws. 

18.  quid  premat,  etc.  :  of  the  phases  of  the  moon ;  obscurum  is 
used  proleptically  with  prernat,  buries  in  darkness ;   cf.  Virg.  Aen. 
iv.  80,  post  ubidigressi,  lumenque  obscura  vicissim  Lunapremit. 

19.  quid  velit  et  possit :   i.e.  its  meaning  and  power.        con- 
cordia  discors  :  the  discordant  harmony,  an  oxymoron.     Manilius, 
i.  141,  speaks  of  it  as  discordia  concors. 

20.  Empedocles  :  a  native  of  Agrigentum,  who  lived  about  450  B.C. 
He  believed  that  all  things  had  their  origin  and  their  end  in  the  influ- 
ence of  love  and  hate  on  the  four  elements,  —  earth,  air,  water,  and 
fire.          Stertinium  acumen :  cf.  virtus  Scipiadae,  Serin,  ii.  i.  72, 
and  the  note.    Stertinius  is  mentioned  as  a  type  of  the  Stoics ;  cf. 
Serm.  ii.  3.  33  and  296. 

21.  piscis  seu  porrum  :  i.e.  costly  or  simple  fare  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2. 
120,  piscibusurbe  petitis.        trucidas  :  with  reference  to  the  Pythago- 
rean belief  that  animals  and  some  vegetables  contained  the  souls  of 
human  beings  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  64,  faba  Pythagorae  cognata. 

22.  utere  :  i.e.   make  friends  with.        Pompeio   Grospho  :   cf. 
Odes,  ii.  16.        ultro  :  freely,  more  lit.  without  being  asked. 

23.  verum:  right;  cf.  i.  7.  98. 

24.  amicorum  :  appositional  genitive.    The  idea  seems  to  be  that 
one  can  secure  friends  at  a  small  outlay  when  those  who  are  to  be  won 
by  favors  are  good  men  ;  for  their  desires  and  demands  will  be  small. 

25.  ignores  .  .  .  loco  res  :  note  the  rhyme  (probably  accidental). 

26.  Cantaber  :   the  Cantabrians  were  conquered  by  Agrippa  in 

19  B.C. 

27.  Armenius  :    Armenia  submitted  to  Tiberius  without  resist- 
ance, after  the  king  Artaxias  had  been  murdered  by  his  subjects. 
Pbraates :  he  restored  to  the  Romans  the  standards  which  had  been 
taken  from  Crassus,  and  sought  their  friendship  in  20  B.C. 

28.  genibus  minor  :  i.e.  humbled  and  on  his  knees,  as  he  is  repre- 
sented in  coins  commemorative  of  the  event. 

EPISTLE   XIII. 

1.  saepe  diuque  :  repeatedly  and  at  length. 

2.  reddes  :  future  with  imperative  force.         signata  :  i.e.  packed 
in  a  scrinium  (cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  120)  and  sealed.        Vini  :   otherwise 
unknown. 


PAGE  108.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  14.  337 

3.  denique  :  finally  ;  i.e.  even  if  everything  else  is  favorable,  it  is 
to  be  given  only  if  Augustus  asks  for  it. 

4.  studio  nostri :  through  your  interest  in  me.        pecces  :  prob- 
ably used  in  the  same  sense  as  in  i.  1.  9.        odium  .  .  .  importes  : 
i.e.  make  the  gift  unwelcome. 

5.  sedulus  :  cf.  Serin,  i.  5.  71.        opera  vehemente :  i.e.  by  too 
great  enthusiasm. 

6.  uret:  galls. 

7.  quo  perferre  iuberis :    your  destination;    sc.   eo  modifying 
impingas. 

9.  vertas    in    risum :    i.e.    are    laughed    at    as  rightly  named, 
fabula  :  the  talk  of  the  town  ;  cf.  Epod.  11.  8,  heu  me,  per  Urbem  .  .  . 
fabula  quanta  fui. 

10.  uteris :  the  future  has  the  force  of  an  imperative.          lamas : 
bogs  ;  from  the  stem  lac-  (of  lacus)  +  -ma. 

11.  victor  propositi :  i.e.  having  accomplished  your  purpose. 

12.  sic  :   looks  forward  to  the  following  purpose  clauses  intro- 
duced by  ne. 

14.  Pyrrhia :    Pyrrhia  nomen   est  ancillae   in    quadam   fabula 
Titinii,  quae  furata  lanae  glomos  ita  gestavit  ut  deprehensa  sit,  Comm. 
Cruq. 

15.  tribulis :    a  member  of  the  same  tribe  as  his  host,  and  so 
invited  for  political  reasons.      The  reference  is  to  a  humble  guest 
who  comes  on  foot,  carrying  his  shoes  and  hat  (to  be  worn  home  at 
night)  under  his  arm. 

16.  volgo  :  i.e.  to  anybody  and  everybody. 

17.  quae  possint :  a  clause  of  characteristic;  he  is  not  to  boast  of 
the  excellence  of  the  poems  which  he  is  carrying. 

18.  oratus :  i.e.  although  many  people  earnestly  beg  you  to  stop 
and  tell  them  your  errand.         nitere  porro  :  push  on. 

19.  cave  :  with  short  final  e,  as  was  usual  in  comedy  and  doubtless 
in  the  language  of  every  day.         mandataque  frangas :  and  break 
what  has  been  entrusted  to  you,  as  if  he  were  a  beast  of  burden  and 
the  poems  were  fragile  ware. 

EPISTLE   XIV. 

1.  vilice :  the  steward  or  overseer  of  the  slaves  on  a  country 
estate.  His  duties  and  qualifications  are  described  at  length  by  Cato, 
de  Agr.  5.  silvarum :  cf.  Serin,  ii.  6.  3,  paulum  silvae  super  his 
foret.  mini  me  reddentis:  i.e.  that  makes  me  myself  again. 


338  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  14.  [PAGE  108. 

2.  habitatum  :    with  concessive  force,  though  it  is  occupied  by. 
focis :  households ;  lit.  hearths. 

3.  Variam :  a  small  town  on  the  Anio,  eight  miles  from  Tibur ;  it 
was  the  nearest  market  town.         patres  :  i.e.  patres  familias,  who 
went  to  Varia  to  market,  and  for  the  local  political  meetings. 

4.  certemus :   let   us  decide,  as  of  a  wager.         spinas :  thorns, 
used  metaphorically  of  moral  failings. 

5.  res  :  his  property,  i.e.  the  estate. 

6.  Lamiae :  subjective  genitive.    For  the  name,  see  Odes,  iii.  17. 
moratur  :  for  the  indicative  with  quamvis,  see.Introd.  §  45.  b. 

7.  fratrem  .  .  .  de  fratre :  the  repetition  emphasizes  the  persistence 
of  the  laments  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  13.  1,  cum  tu,  Lydia,  Telephi  .  .  .  TelephL 

8.  insolabiliter  :  a  word  coined  by  Horace.     The  spondaic  rhythm 
suits  the  thought.         istuc  :    to  where  you  are,  i.e.  to  his  country 
residence. 

9.  amat  :    longs  to;    cf.    Odes,   iii.  9.  24,    tecum    vivere    amem. 
spatiis :  the  course  ;  a  metaphor  from  the  races. 

10.  viventem :  sc.  te.  and  me  with  beatum. 

11.  Cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  Iff. 

12.  causatur  :  blames  ;  lit.  gives  as  the  cause  of  his  discontent. 

13.  qui  se  non  effugit :  cf.  i.  11.  27,  Caelum  non  animum  mutant 
qui  trans  mare  currunt. 

14.  mediastinus :  when  you  were  a  drudge  ;  the  term  is  used  of  a 
slave  who  had  no  fixed  duties,  but  was  liable  to  be  called  on  to  do  any 
kind  of  work  ;  i.e.  he  was  in  medio.        tacita  prece:  i.e.  as  some- 
thing too  good  to  be  prayed  for  openly. 

15.  ludos  et  balnea  :   the  chief  attractions  of  the  city  for  the 
common  people. 

17.  quandocumque  :    i.e.  only  when  it  is  absolutely  necessary. 

18.  eo  :  in  that  respect.        disconvenit :   cf.  i.  1.  99,  vitae  dis- 
convenit  toto  ordine,  and  the  note. 

19.  tesqua :    according  to  the  Comm.  Cruq.,  the  word  is  Sabine. 
Except  for  its  use  here  and  in  Lucan  vi.  41,  it  is  archaic. 

20.  mecum  qui  sentit :   i.e.  I  and  people  like  me. 

21.  uncta :  greasy.        popina  :  a  word  of  Sabine  origin  ;  the  cor- 
responding Latin  form  would  be  coquina. 

23.  angulus  iste  :  the  contemptuous  term  applied  by  the  vilicus 
to  Horace's  estate.  piper  et  tus  :  the  products  of  Arabia  and 
India,  which  of  course  could  not  be  grown  at  all  in  Italy.  ocius  : 
rather  than,  lit.  sooner  than. 


PAGE  109.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  14.  389 

24.  praebere  :  the  infinitive  denoting  purpose,  a  poetical  construc- 
tion. 

25.  meretrix  tibicina  :   like  the  copa  of  Virgil's  poem  of  that 
name. 

26.  strepitum:  cf.  Odes,  iv.  3.  17,  testudinis  aureae  dulcem  strepi- 
tum.        terrae  gravis  :  i.e.  treading  heavily  on  the  earth.     Cf.  Odes 
iii.  18.  15;  Gaudet  invisam  pepulisse  fossor  Ter  pede  terrain.         et 
tamen  urges  :  and  yet,  though  you  have  no  amusements,  you  have 
to  struggle  with  the  neglected  fields ;   cf.  Tibull.  i.  9.  8,  Et  durum 
terrae  rusticus  urguet  opus. 

28.  strictis  frondibus :   used  for  fodder.     Cf.  Cato,  de  Ayr.  30, 
bubus  frondem  ulmeam,  populneam,  querneam,  ficulneam,  usque  dum 
habebis,  dato. 

29.  rivus  :  the  Digentia. 

30.  multa  mole  :  with  many  a  dam. 

31.  quid  .  .  .  dividat :  i.e.  what  makes  the  difference  between  us. 

32.  tenues :  fine,  of  fine  material.          nitidi  :  cf.   Odes,  ii.  7.  7, 
coronatus  nitentes  Malobathro  Syria  capillos. 

33.  immunem :  though  with  empty  hands.        Cinarae  :  see  note 
on  i.  7.  28. 

34.  bibulum  :  governed  by  scis.        liquid!  :  plear.        media  de 
luce  :  cf.  Serin,  ii.  8.  3,  de  medio  potare  die. 

35.  cena  brevis  :  i.e.  a  dinner  of  few  courses  begun  at  the  usual 
time  instead  of  media  de  luce.          somnus  in  herba  :  instead  of  the 
comissatio,  or  symp'osium. 

36.  nee  lusisse  .  .  .  sed  non  incidere :  i.e.  he  is  not  ashamed 
of  having  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  youth,  but  he  would  be  ashamed 
not  to  be  able  to  cut  them  short  at  the  proper  time. 

38.  limat :  lit.  files,  and  so  like  mordet  in  Odes,  iv.  3.  16.     Oculo 
.  .  .  limat  makes  a  play  on  the  expression  limis  oculis,  Serm.  ii.  5. 
53,  where  see  note. 

39.  rident  :  that  is,  they  laugh  good-naturedly  at  Horace's  attempts 
at  farm  work. 

40.  diaria  :  daily  rations,  instead  of  the  abundance  of  the  country. 

41.  horum  :  i.e.  servorum  urbanorum. 

42.  calo  :  il\.e  stable  boy,  who  comes  with  Horace  from  the  city, 
where  his  duties  are  doubtless  those  of  a  mediastinus  (cf.  line  14). 

43.  piger :  to  be  taken  with  bos,  although  it  makes  an  awkward 
caesura  ;  because  of  his  laziness,  supposing  the  horse  to  have  an  easier 
life. 


340  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  15.  [PAGE  109. 

44.  censebo  :  I  should  advise,  approaching  the  potential  subjunc- 
tive in  its  force.  exerceat :  should  practice ;  jussive  subjunctive 
dependent  on  censebo. 

EPISTLE   XV. 

1.  Veliae  :  a  town  in  Lucania,  twenty-four  miles  south  of  Paestum, 
noted  for  its  excellent  climate.          caelum  :  the  weather.          Vala  : 
C.  Numonius  Vala,  a  friend  of  Horace's,  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Velia 
and   Salernum.      The  name   occurs    in   inscriptions  of    that  region. 
Salernum :  a  town  in  Campania,  twenty-three  miles  north  of  Paestum, 
still  noted  for  its  beauty. 

2.  quorum  homirmm  :   i.e.  what  sort  of  people  there  are  there, 
whether  they  are   friendly  and  hospitable.     A  genitive  of  quality. 
qualis  via  :  what  sort  of  a  road  there  is.     The  via  Popillia  led  from 
Capua  to  Salernum,  but  then  turned  off  toward  Rhegium,  so  that  there 
was  no  regular  Roman  road  leading  to  Velia.          Baias  :  see  note  on 
i.  1.  83. 

3.  Musa  Antonius  :  a  freedman  and  physician  of  Augustus,  who 
had  cured  him  of  a  serious  illness,  in  23  B.C.,  by  the  cold  water  treat- 
ment.    See  Suet.  Aug.  81,  quia  calida  fomenta  non  proderant,  frigidis 
curari  coactus  auctore  Antonio  Musa.     On  the  inversion  of  the  names, 
see  Superbus,  Serm.  i.  6.  12,  and  the  note.        supervacuas  :   useless, 
because  he  prescribed  the  cold  water  treatment,  and  Baiae  was  noted 
for  its  hot  baths.         illis  .  .  .  invisum  :  i.e.  Horace  is  unpopular  at 
Baiae,  because  he  does  not  use  the  local  baths. 

4.  cum  :  now  that. 

5.  murteta :   myrtle  groves  near  Baiae,  in  which  there  were  hot 
baths,  mentioned  by  Celsus,  ii.  17  and  iii.  2. 

6.  dicta :    which    are   said  to.  cessantem  :    lingering,   i.e. 
'chronic.' 

7.  sulpura:  i.e.  sulphur  baths.          vicus  gemit :  the  town  (i.e. 
Baiae)  laments. 

8.  supponere  fontibus  :  as  in  a  shower  bath. 

9.  Clusinis  :  at  Clusium  in  Etruria.     The  cold  baths  there  are  not 
elsewhere  mentioned.          Gabios :  cf.  Juv.  vii.  3,  cum  celebres  noti- 
que  poetae  Balneolum  Gabiis,  Romae  conducere  furnos  Temptarent. 

10.  deversoria  nota  :  sc.  equo  ;  the  familiar  inns,  where  the  road 
turned  off  toward  Baiae. 

12.   laeva  stomachosus  habena  :  with  an  angry  pull  on  the  left 


PAGE  111.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  15.  341 

rein,  as  the  horse  tries  to  turn  off  to  the  right :  habena  is  ablative  of 
instrument,  'showing  his  anger  with  the  left  rein.' 

13.  equi  ...  in  ore :  i.e.  the  horse  is  guided  by  the  bit  and  not 
by  words. 

14.  Horace  renews  the  questions  which  he  interrupted  by  the 
digression  beginning  with  line  2,  and  asks  about  the  supply  of  bread 
and  water. 

15.  collectos  :  i.e.  in  cisterns. 

16.  iugis  aquae  :  running  water  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  2.       nihil  moror : 
I  don't  care  at  all  for.     Cf.  Plaut.  Trin.  297,  Nil  ego  istos  moror  fae- 
ceos  mores. 

17.  quidvis  :  anything,  not  referring  to  wine  alone.         perferre  : 
put  up  with. 

18.  ad  mare  cum  vend  :  i.e.  when  I  mingle  with  the  fashionable 
world  at  a  seaside  resort. 

19.  cum  spe  divite :  cf.  i.  5.  17,  (ebrietas)  spes  iubet  esse  ratas. 

21.  Lucanae  :  with  reference  to  Velia.        iuvenem:  i.e.  .as  if  I 
were  a  young  man. 

The  questions  are  renewed  after  another  digression,  which  artist- 
ically breaks  the  monotony  of  a  series  of  inquiries. 

22.  lepores  :  highly  esteemed  as  food  ;  cf.  Mart.  xiii.  92,  Inter 
quadrupedes  mattea  prima  lepus.        apros  :  the  Lucanian  boars  were 
famous.     Cf.  Semi.  ii.  8.  6. 

23.  echinos :  sea-urchins.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  4.  33,  Miseno  oriuntur 
echini.     The  sea-urchin  is  a  favorite  article  of  food  with  the  Greeks  of 
to-day. 

24.  Phaeax  :  i.e.  '  well  groomed '  like  a  Phaeacian  ;    cf.  i.  2.  28, 
Alcinoique  In  cute  curanda  plus  aequo  operata  iuventus. 

25.  accredere:   the  preposition  seems  to  have  intensive  force, 
fully  believe. 

26.  Maenius:  cf.   Serm.  i.  3.  21. 

27.  fortiter  :  with  sarcastic  force.        urbanus  :  cf.  i.  9. ll,frontis 
urbanae  praemia ;  urbanus  is  to  be  taken  with  scurra ;  cf.  Plaut. 
Most.  15,  Tu  urbanus  vero  scurra,  deliciae  popli,  fius  mihitu  obiectas  ? 

28.  vagus:    explained  by  the  following  relative  clause.     He  was 
not  a  certus  convira  (cf.  i.  7.  75)  at  some  great  man's  house.        prae- 
sepe:  cf.  Plaut.  Cure.  227,  Tormento  non  retineri  potuit  ferreo,  Qitin 
reciperet  se  hue  esum  ad praesepem  suam. 

29.  impransus :  on  an  empty  stomach,  the  prandium  being  the  first 
substantial  meal  of  the  day ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2,  impransi  mecum  disquirite. 


342  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  15.  [PAGE  111. 

civem  .  .  .  hoste:  a  proverbial  expression.     Cf.  Plaut.   Trin.  102, 
Hostisne  an  civis  comedis  parvi  pendere. 

30.  fingere  saevus :  a  common  use  of  the  infinitive  in  Horace.   See 
Introd.  §  46.  a. 

31.  pernicies  et  tempestas  :  for  a  similar  comparison,  cf.  Plaut. 
Capt.  911,  Glades  calamitasque  intemperies  modo  in  nostram  advenit 
domum.        barathrum :  as  we  might  say,  bottomless  pit. 

32.  quicquid  quaesierat:  i.e.  all  his  earnings. 

33.  nequitiae :  his  wicked  wit,  which  called  forth  applause  or  in- 
spired fear,        nil ...  abstulerat :  i.e.  when  he  had  failed  to  get  dain- 
ties or  the  means  of  purchasing  them,  he  ate  coarse  food  with  avidity. 

34.  patinas:   whole   platefuls.      Accusative  object  of    cenabat ; 
see  Introd.  §  38.  a.        omasi  :  tripe,  a  coarse  food. 

35.  agninae :   a  substantive  with  ellipsis  of  carnis.      Cf.  Plaut. 
Aul.  373,   Capt.  849.        tribus  ursis :    so  with  us  the  bear  is  pro- 
verbial for  his   appetite ;    cf.    the   expression,    « hungry   as  a  bear.' 
quod  satis  esset :  enough  for.     Quod  refers  loosely  to  patinas,  with- 
out taking  its  gender  and  number.    Esset  is  subjunctive  in  a  clause  of 
characteristic. 

36.  scilicet  ut :    i.e.  to  the  extent  of  saying.        lamna  :   the  syn- 
copated form  is  perhaps  colloquial ;  see  note  on  caldior,  i.  3.  53.     Cf. 
Odes  ii.  2.  5,  inimice  laminae. 

37.  correctus  Bestius:  i.e.  reformed  to  the  standard  of  Bestius  ; 
more  lit.,  'corrected  so  as  to  become  a  Bestius.'     Bestius  is  referred 
to  by  Persius,  vi.  37,  Bestius  urguet  doctores  Graios.     He  is  perhaps 
taken,  like  Maenius,  from  Lucilius  ;  at  any  rate,  it  is  obvious  that  he 
criticised  the  luxurious  living  of  his  time  to  such  an  extent  as  to  become 
proverbial. 

38.  quicquid  .   .   .   praedae    maioris:    i.e.    whenever  he    had 
made  a  richer  haul  than  usual. 

39.  verterat  in  fumum  et  cinerem :  i.e.  after  he  had  lost  his 
property  ;   a  common   metaphor.    Note  the   pluperfect  with  ubi,  to 
represent  the  action  as  completed  in  the  past. 

41.  turdo:    a  luxury;   cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  72;  ii.  5.  10.        volva : 
the  sow's  matrix,  considered  a  great  delicacy  by  the  Romans. 

42.  nimirum :  you  see.        hie  :  that  sort  of  a  man.     Cf.  i.  6.  40, 
ne  fueris  hie  tu. 

43.  satis  .   .  .  fortis :  i.e.  in  putting  up  with  ordinary  living. 

44.  unctius :  richer.     Cf.  Mart.  v.  44.  7,  unctior  cena. 

46.   fundata:  solidly  invested.     Cf.  Cic.  Bab.  Post.  i.  1.  1,  quod 


PAGE  113.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  16.  343 

fortunas  suas,  fundatas  praesertim  atque  optime  constitutas,  potestati 
regiae  libidinique  commiserat. 

EPISTLE  XVI. 

1.  ne  perconteris :  that  you  may  not  ask,  depending  on  scribetur 
in  line  4.        Quincti :  who  he  was,  is  unknown.     Kiessling  points  out 
that  the  epithet  optimus  is  used  sparingly  by  Horace.     He  applies  it 
to  his  father  (Serin,  i.  4.  105),  to  Maecenas  (Serm.  1.  5.  27),  to  Virgil 
(Serin,  i.  6.  54),  and  to  Aristius  Fuscus  (Serm.  i.   10.  82),  while  he 
calls  Trebatius  pater  optime  (Serm.  ii.  1.  12).     Hence  Quinctius  must 
have  stood  high  in  his  list  of  friends. 

2.  arvo:  land  ploughed  for  grain,  and  hence  equivalent  here  to 
grain. 

3.  pratis :  pasture  lands,  hence  referring  to  cattle  ;  cf.  arvo,  line  2 
above. 

4.  forma :  aspect,  as  determined  by  the  kind  of  crops.        situs : 
its  situation.        loquaciter :  i.e.  in  full  detail,  implying  that  the  sub- 
ject is  one  on  which  Horace  loves  to  talk. 

5.  continui  montes :   sc.  sint ;    it  would    be    an   uninterrupted 
mass  of  hilly  ground  but  for  the  valley.        ni  dissocientur :  if  they 
(the  mountains)  icere  not  divided.    A  condition  contrary  to  fact  with 
the  present  subjunctive  ;  an  archaic  usage. 

6.  sed  ut :  i.e.  the  valley  is  shaded,  except  that  the  rising  sun 
shines  on  its  right  slope  and  the  setting  sun  on  its  left. 

8.  quid  si :  i.e.  what  would  you  say  to  the  following  in  addition  to 
what  I  have  already  told  you  ? 

10.  fruge  :  i.e.   glandibus. 

11.  Tarentum  :   famous  for  its  beauty  and  admired  by  Horace  ; 
cf.  Odes,  ii.  6.  13  f. 

12.  ferns :  possibly  the  fons  Bandusiae  of  Odes,  iii.  13.        rivo  : 
the  Digentia  ;  cf.  i.  14.  29  f.        idoneus  :  i.e.  large  enough  to. 

13.  Hebrus :  proverbially  cold  ;  cf.  i.  3. 3,  and  the  note,     ambiat : 
flows  through  in  winding  course  ;  cf.  Ars  Poet.  17,  properantis  aquae 
per  amoenos  ambitus  agros. 

14.  capiti  .  .  .  alvo  :  cf.  i.  15.  8. 

15.  dulces  .  .  .  amoenae :  respectively  subjective  and  objective, 
dear  and  charming. 

16.  incolumem  :  in  good  health;  cf.i.  11.  17.         Septembribus 
horis :  the  unhealthful  season  in  the  city  ;  cf.  i.  7.  5,  and  the  note. 


344  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  16.  [PAGE  113. 

17.  quod  audis  :  what  you  are  said  to  be  ;  cf.  i.  7.  38,  and  the  note. 

18.  iactamus  .  .  .  oninis  Roma  :   all  of  us  Romans  have  been 
extolling.    For  the  construction,  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.  50,  Non  semel  dicemus, 
io  Triumphe,  Civitas  omnis ;  i.  10.  1. 

19.  vereor,  etc.  :  i.e.  I  fear  that  you  may  care  more  for  reputation 
than  for  real  worth. 

20.  alium  sapiente  :  the  ablative  of  comparison  with  alius  •  cf. 
ii.  1.  240,  alius  Lysippo. 

22.  febrem:  the  quartan  ague  (quartana,  Serin,  ii.  3.  290),  which 
was  intermittent,  and,  according  to  Celsus,  iii.  3,   incipiunt  fere  ab 
horrore  .  .  .  ubi  totum  corpus  intremit.        sub  tempus  edendi :  at 
meal  time;  for  the  force  of  sub,  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  10. 

23.  unctis :   since  the  ancients  ate  for  the  most  part  with  their 
fingers,  this  epithet  has  not  the  grotesque  effect  that  it  would  have  if 
translated  literally  into  English.     As  Doederlein  says,  it  is  practically 
the  same  as  '  with  knife  and  fork  in  hand.' 

24.  stultorum    incurata:    note  the  emphatic  position  of  both 
words.        pudor  malus  :  false  shame ;   cf.  ii.  3.  39. 

25.  tibi:  dative  of  the  apparent  agent  with  pugnata. 

26.  vacuas  :   attentive,  to  the  flattery.      Cf.  Lucr.  i.  50,  vacuas 
auris  animumque  .  .  .  adhibe  veram  ad  rationem. 

28-30.   According  to  the  Comm.  Cruq.,  these  lines  are  from  a  pane- 
gyric of  Augustus  by  L.  Varius. 

28.   servet  in  ambiguo :  i.e.  may  he  not  reveal. 

30.  pateris  :  allow  yourself. 

31.  respondesne:   -ne  here  apparently  has  the  force  of  nonne; 
cf.  Epod.  4.  7,  videsne  .  .  .  ut  ora  vertat  hue  et  hue  euntium  Liber- 
rima  indignatio?        tuo  nomine:    i.e.  accepting  the  compliment. 
nempe  :    the  reply  of  Quinctius  to  Horace's  insinuation,  «  Why,  of 
course."1 

32.  ac  tu  :  and  so  do  you,  as  well  as  I. 

33.  qui:  i.e.  populus ;  cf.  line  21. 

34.  detulerit  fascis  indigno :  cf.  Serm.  i.  6. 15,  populo,  qui  stultus 
honor es  Saepe  dat  indignis. 

35.  tristis  recede :    cf.   Lucr.  iii.  997,  semper  victus  tristisque 
recedit. 

36.  idem  :  i.e.  populus.        furem  :  sc.  me  esse. 

37.  laqueo  .  .  .  paternum  :  as  a  type  of  the  height  of  wickedness ; 
cf.  Odes,  ii.  13.  4,  Ilium  et  parentis  crediderim  sui  Fregisse  cervicem. 

38.  colores :  i.  e.  from  pale  to  red  and  back  again  ;  hence  the  plural. 


PAGE  114.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  16.  345 

40.  mendosus :  the  opposite  of  emendatus  in  line  30.        medi- 
candum  :  i.e.  in  a  moral  sense. 

41.  qui  .  .  .  servat  :  i.e.  the  law-abiding  citizen. 

42.  quo  .  .  .  iudice :  i.e.  as  one  of  the  indices  selecti;  see  Serm. 
i.  4.  123,  and  the  note.        secantur  :  are  decided ;  lit.  '  cut  off.'     An 
unusual  meaning  of  the  word  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  15. 

43.  sponsore :    surety.         tenentur:    with  res  means  secured, 
with  causae,  won;  zeugma. 

44.  sed  videt :  his  private  life  does  not  correspond  with  his  repu- 
tation as  a  public  man. 

45.  introrsum  turpem  .  .  .  decora :  see  Serm.  ii.  1.  64,  and  the 
note. 

46.  Mere  negative  virtue  amounts  to  little. 

47.  lords  non  ureris :    cf.  Epod.  4.  3,  Hibericis  peruste  funibus 
latus  ;  Serm.  ii.  7.  58,  uri  virgis. 

48.  cruce  :  crucifixion  was  a  common  punishment  for  slaves. 

49.  Sabellus :    apparently  for  the  first  person,  a  plain,  honest 
Sabine  like  myself;  so  called  on  account  of  his  estate  in  the  Sabine 
country. 

50.  cautus  enim  metuit  .  .  .  lupus :   yet  he  cannot  be  called 
bonus  et  frugi. 

51.  miluus  :  perhaps  a  kind  of  flying  fish,  '  kite-fish '  ;   Plin.  N.  H. 
ix.  82,  volat  hirundo,  sane  perquam  similis  volucri  hirundini,  item 
miluus.    Or  perhaps,  as  the  connection  with  accipiter  suggests,  the 
bird  itself.     Birds  are  sometimes  caught  with  hook  and  line. 

52.  oderunt :  contrasted  with  an  implied  metuunt.    Note  the  em- 
phatic position  of  oderunt  and  virtutis  amore  ;  it  is  from  love  of  virtue 
that  the  good  cannot  bear  to  do  wrong. 

53.  tu  :  emphatic  ;  contrasted  with  boni.        formidine  poenae : 
contrasted  with  virtutis  amore. 

54.  sit :  jussive  subjunctive  with  conditional  force. 

55.  unum  :  sc.  modium. 

56.  damnum  .  .  .  non  facinus :  i.e.  in  his  master's  eyes,  though 
morally  it  is  the  same  thing.        pacto  .  .  .  isto  :  in  that  case,  i.e. 
according  to  your  standard.    Note  the  force  of  isto. 

57.  vir  bonus  :  such  a  one  as  is  described  in  lines  41  f. 

59.  dare,  clare :  with  the  order  and  repetition,  cf.  line  14  above. 
He  prays  loudly,  but  mutters  his  real  wishes. 

60.  metuens  audiri :  for  the  construction,  cf.  i.  7.  4.       Laverna  : 
a  goddess  of  thieves. 


346  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  17.  [PAGE  114. 

61.  iusto  sanctoque  :  attracted  to  the  case  of  mihi,  understood. 
videri :  emphatic,  to  SEEM. 

63.  qui:  how? 

64.  in  triviis  fixum  :  probably  simply  lying  on  the  ground  in  the 
dust  and  mud. 

66.  mihi :  in  my  eyes;  dative  of  the  person  judging.    B.  188.  2.  b. 

67.  perdidit  arma  :  the  height  of  disgrace  was  to  be  a  pi^do-Trts,  as 
Horace  humorously  describes  himself  as  having  been  at  Philippi ;  cf. 
Odes,  ii.  7.  10. 

69.  possis :  the  indefinite  second  person,  addressed  to  people  in 
general.        captivum :  i.e.  such  a  man  is  really  a  slave,  and  may 
have  his  uses. 

70.  durus:  cf.  i.  7.  91,  durus,  Voltei,  nimis  attentusque  videris 
Esse  mihi.    The  man  is  really  working  for  his  own  interests,  but  he 
benefits  the  public  more  than  he  does  himself. 

72.  annonae  prosit:  i.e.  bring  down  the  price  of  grain,  — as  we 
say,  '  relieve  the  market,'  — by  importing  large  quantities.        penus  : 
cf.  Cic.  Nat.  Deor.  ii.  27.  68,  est  enim  omne  quo  vescuntur  homines 
penus. 

73.  Pentheu  :  a  paraphrase  of  Euripides,  Bacchae,  492-498,  where 
Dionysus,  disguised  as  a  Lydian  priest,  defies  Pentheus,  king  of  Thebes, 
who  had  attempted  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  the  Bacchic  worship. 

79.  ultima  linea  :  i.e.  the  line  which  marks  the  finish  of  the 
race. 

EPISTLE   XVII. 

1.  consulis :   on  quamms  with  the  indicative,  see  Introd.  §  45.  b. 

2.  quo  tandem  pacto :    hoic,  pray ;   transferred  to  the  indirect 
form.        maioribus:  great  men.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  61,  maiorum  ami- 
cus.        uti :  to  treat,  i.e.  in  one's  association  with  them. 

3.  docendus  adhuc :  i.e.  who  has  not  himself  learned  the  full 
lesson.        amiculus  :  a  humble  friend,  the  force  of  the  diminutive. 

4.  caecus  iter  monstrare  :  a  proverbial  saying,  somewhat  like 
ours  of  the  blind  leading  the  blind. 

5.  et  nos  :   even  7;  so-called  '  plural  of  modesty. '         f ecisse  : 
perfect  infinitive  emphasizing  the  accomplishment  of  the  act.     Cf.  i. 
18.  59  ;  Serm.  \.  2.  28  ;  ii.  3.  187  ;  Ars  Poet.  98  ;  and  see  Introd.  §  44.  /. 

6.  primam  in  horam  :  while  the  attendant  on  the  great  would 
have  to  be  up  before  sunrise,  to  be  on  time  with  his  morning  call.    Cf. 
Mart.  iv.  8.  1,  Prima  salutantes  atque  altera  content  hora. 


PAGE  116.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  17.  347 

7.  pulvis  .  .  .  strepitus  .  .  .  caupona :  on  journeys  which  the 
client  sometimes  made  with  his  patron  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  42. 

8.  Ferentinum  :  a  small  town  in  the  country  of  the  Hernici,  forty- 
eight  miles  from  Rome.     It  is  mentioned  as  a  type  of  a  quiet  and  ob- 
scure town  ;  cf.  i.  11.  8,  Gabiis  desertior  atque  Fidenis  vicus,  and  the 
note.        iubebo  :  for  the  tense,  see  note  on  censebo,  i.  14.  44. 

10.  natus  moriensque  fefellit :  i.e.  who  was  born  and  died  in 
obscurity;  cf.  Ovid,  Trist.  iii.  4.  25,  Crede  mihi:  bene  qui  latuit,bene 
vixit. 

12.  te  tractare  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  85,  Tractari  mollius  detas  Imbe- 
cilla  volet.        siccus:  the  opposite  of  unctum;  cf.  i.  15.  44.  'ubi  quid 
melius  continyit  et  unctius. 

13.  bolus  :  object  ofpranderet;  cf.  ii.  3.  245  ;  Introd.  §  38.  a. 

14.  Aristippus:  cf.  i.  1.  18.    The  speaker  is  Diogenes,  and  the 
story  is  told  by  Diog.  Laert.  ii.  68. 

15.  notat :  censures;  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  5. 

16.  doce,  vel  iunior  audi :  i.e.  either  tell  me  which  of  these  two 
philosophers  you  think  is  right  (and  why),  or,  as  you  are  a  younger 
man  than  I,  listen  to  my  reason  for  preferring  the  view  of  Aristippus. 

18.  eludebat :  parried.        mordacem  :  with  a  play  on  the  deri- 
vation and  literal  meaning  of  cynicum,  from  the  Greek  KVUV,  '  dog.' 

19.  scurror  :  I  play  the  buffoon. 

20.  splendidius  :  nobler.        equus  .  .  .  rex  :  depending  on  offi- 
cium  facio.     The  expression  is  proverbial  in  Greek. 

21.  verum  dante  minor :   but  thereby  admit  yourself  to  be  the 
inferior  of  the  one  who  gives  them.  - 

22.  fers  te  :  i.e.  you  represent  yourself  as.         nullius  :  probably 
neuter.    Cf.  Ars  Poet.  324,  praeter  laudem  nullius  avaris.    See  Introd. 
§  49.  b. 

23.  Aristippum  decuit :  i.e.  he  could  adapt  himself  to  anything. 
color :  with  the  same  sense  as  in  Serm.  ii.  1.  60,  quisquis  erit  vitae, 
scribam,  color.        status  et  res :  position  and  circumstances. 

24.  temptantem  maiora  :    i.e.  aiming  high.         aequum  :   con- 
tented; cf.  Odes,  iii.  29.  33,  quod  adest  memento  Componere  aequus. 

25.  duplici  panno  :  with  its  double  coat  of  rags,  referring  to  the 
dress  of  the  Cynics.     Cf.  Juv.  iii.  115,  f acinus  maioris  abollae,  and 
Mayor's  note.         patientia :  the  chief  characteristic  of  the  Stoics. 
Cf.  line  13. 

27.  alter:  Aristippus.  exspectabit :  wait  for ;  i.e.  he  will 
appear  in  public  just  as  he  is. 


348  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  17.  [PAGE  116. 

29.  personam  feret  .  .  .  utramque  :  i.e.  will  play  either  part, 
that  of  the  rich  man  of  the  world  or  the  poor  philosopher.     The  per- 
sona was  strictly  the  mask ;  cf.  personatus  pater,  Serm.  i.  4.  56. 

30.  Mileti  textam  :  woven  at  Miletus,  which  was  celebrated  for 
its  fine  wool ;    cf.   Virg.    Georg.   iii.   306,   quamvis  Milesia-  magno 
Vellera  mutentur  Tyrias  incocta  rubores.         peius  .  .  .  vitabit : 
cf.  Odes,  iv.  9.  50,  peius  leto  flagitium  timet. 

33.  res  gerere :  a  career  of  action.    The  infinitive  is  the  subject 
of  attingit. 

34.  attingit  soliuni  lovis :  not  only  figurative,  but  with  reference 
to  the  end  of  the  triumphal  procession  before  the  statue  of  Jupiter  in 
his  temple  on  the  Capitoline  Hill.        caelestia  temptat :  cf.   Odes, 
i.  1.  6,  Terrarum  dominos  evehit  ad  deos ;  iii.  2.  21,  Virtus  recludens 
immeritis  mori  Caelum. 

35.  principibus  .  .  .  viris:  i.e.  such  as  are  referred  to  in  lines 
33,  34. 

36.  non  cuivis  .  .  .  Corinthum  :  a  proverbial  expression  from 
the  Greek. 

37.  sedit :  i.e.  sits  inactive  and  makes  no  attempt  to  succeed. 
Gnomic  perfect,  as  is  also  timuit ;  see  Introd.  §  44.  d. 

38.  fecitne  :  ne  has  the  force  of  nonne  ;  cf.  i.  16.  31. 

39.  laic:  .in  this;  i.e.  in  the  answer  to  the  preceding  question. 
quod  quaerimus  :  i.e.  the  object  of  the  whole  discussion. 

40.  animis  .  .  .  corpore  :   ablative  of  comparison  with  mains. 
mains:  too  great  for. 

41.  subit :  takes  it  up  j  cf.  Serm.  1.  9.  21,  cum  gravius  dorso 
subiit  onus. 

42.  experiens:  enterprising. 

44.  ferent :  will  receive,  as  gifts.        sumas  pudenter :  modestly 
accept,  contrasted  with  rapias.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  51,  licentia  sumpta 
pudenter. 

45.  caput :  the  main  point.        erat :  at  the  time  when  you  at- 
tached yourself  to  a  patron.     The  action  continues  into  the  present ; 
cf.  eras,  i.  4.  6  ;  Introd.  §  44.  b. 

46.  indotata  .  .  .  soror  :  on  the  feelings  of  the  Romans  on  this 
subject,  see  Plant.    Trin.  689  f .,  ne  mihi  hanc  famam  differant,  Me 
germanam  meam  sororem  in  concubinatum  tibi,  si  sine  dote  dem, 
dedisse  magis  quam  in  matrimonium. 

47.  nee  pascere  firmus:   i.e.  does  not  yield  enough  for  their 
needs.     For  the  construction  of  the  infinitive,  see  Introd.  §  46.  a. 


PAGE  118.]  BOOK  I.    EPISTLE  18.  349 

48.  clamat '  victum  date'  :  i.e.  he  is  no  better  than  a  common 
beggar.         succinit  alter  :  a  rival  (beggar)  chimes  in. 

49.  et  mini  :  me  too  9  sc.  date  victum.         quadra  :  a  round  loaf 
marked   off  into  four  parts  by  lines  across  the  top,  so  that  it  could 
easily  be  broken.     Cf.  pseudo-Virg.  Moret.  47,  Levat  opus  palmisque 
suum  dilatat  in  orbem  Et  notat  impressis  aequo  discrimine  quadris. 

50.  tacitus  pasci :  the  reference  does  not  seem  to  be  to  the  fa- 
miliar fable  of  the  Fox  and  the  Crow,  but,  as  Porph.  says,  to  the  habits 
of  crows  in  general :  nam  corvus  cum  accedit  ad  cibum  strepitu  vocis 
alias  aves  arcessit,  undefit  ut  solus  pasci  non  possit. 

52.  Brundisium  .  .  .  aut  Surrentum  :  i.e.  on  a  business  or 
a  pleasure  trip.  Surrentum,  the  modern  Sorrento,  was  noted  in 
ancient  times,  as  it  is  to-day,  for  its  beauty  and  for  its  delightful 
climate. 

55.  refert :  repeats.  acumina :  the  clever  tricks.  catellam  : 
apparently  the  diminutive  of  catena,  not  of  catulus.  One  is  reminded 
of  the  modern  actress  and  her  stolen  diamonds. 

59.  planum  :  an  impostor,  who  pretends  to  have  broken  his  leg. 
A  Greek  word,  ir\6.vos,  from  Tr\dvofj.ai ;  lit.  '•tramp,'1  vagabond. 

60.  per  Osirim  :  the  worship  of  the  Egyptian  god  Osiris  gained  a 
footing  in  Rome  as  early  as  the  time  of  Sulla  (about  80  B.C.),  and  a 
temple  of  Isis  and  Osiris  was  built  by  the  Triumvirs  after  Caesar's 
death,  in  44  B.C. 

62.  quaere  peregrinum :  implying  that  it  is  an  old  trick  in  that 
town.  Note  the  assonance  (imitating  the  vicinia  rauca),  caused  by 
the  repetition  of  r  and  c  in  these  and  the  following  words. 

EPISTLE   XVIII. 

1.  liberrime  :  independent. 

2.  amicum  :  object  of  professus,  the  concrete  for  the  abstract ;  cf. 
Odes,  i.  35.  22,  nee  comitem  abnegat. 

4.  discolor :   the  dress  of  the  matron  was  the  white  stola,  while 
the  courtesan  was  obliged  to  wear  a  dark  toga;  discolor  sometimes 
means  merely  different,  but  the  choice  of  the  word  was  doubtless  in- 
fluenced by  the  fact  referred  to.         scurrae  :   dative  with  a  verb 
meaning  '  differ  from '  ;  see  Introd.  §  39.  a. 

5.  huic  vitio  :  i.e.  that  implied  in  scurrantis  and  scurra. 

6.  inconcinna  :  cf.  i.  17.  29,  Personamque  feret  non  inconcinnus 
utramque. 


350  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  18.  [PAGE  118. 

7.  tons  a  cute,  dentibus  atria :  i.e.  by  ostentatious  disregard  of 
personal  appearance  :  tonsa  cute  means  with  the  hair  closely  clipped, 
instead  of  being  properly  trimmed. 

9.  medium  :  cf.  Odes,  ii.  10.  5  ff. 

10.  alter:  the  one,  i.e.  the  scurra.         imi  lecti :  on  the  lowest 
couch,  which  was  occupied  by  the  host  (see  Outline  of  Serm.  ii.  8), 
and  the  scurrae. 

11.  derisor :  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  87  ff. 

12.  iterat  voces  :  sc.  divitis.    He  repeats  his  remarks,  so  that  they 
may  not  by  any  chance  be  lost  to  the  company ;  cf.  the  conduct  of 
Nomentanus  in  Serm.  ii.  8.        verba  cadentia  tollit :   he  takes  up 
words  which  fall  from  his  patron's  lips  and  makes  them  prominent ; 
see  previous  note. 

13.  puerum  .  .  .  reddere  :  a  schoolboy  repeating  what  had  been 
dictated  to  him  by  his  master. 

14.  partis  tractare  secundas  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  9. 46.     The  actors  who 
played  the  secundas  partes  in  the  mimes  seem  to  have  imitated  the 
action  of  the  principal  actors.    Cf.  Suet.  Caligula,  57,  cum  in  Laureolo 
mimo,  in  quo  actor  proripiens  se  ruina  sanguinem  vomit,  plures  secun- 
darum  certatim  experimentum  artis  darent,  cruore  scaena  abundavit. 

15.  rixatur :  the  man  who  prides  himself  on  his  independence  re- 
fuses to  agree  to  anything  and  argues  noisily  and  rudely  about  trifles. 
lana  caprina  :  proverbial  expression  for  a  matter  of  no  importance. 

16.  nugis  :  ablative  of  instrument  with  armatus.          ut  non  .  .  . 
prima  fides :  exclamatory  ut,  the  idea  that  my  opinion  should  not 
settle  the  matter  ! 

17.  vere  :  with  placet. 

18.  pretium  .  .  .  sordet :   for  the  meaning  of  sordet,  cf.  i.  11.4. 
A  second  life  would  be  poor  compensation  for  not  expressing  my 
opinion.     Perhaps  a  burlesque  of  Iliad,  ix.  444  ff. 

19.  Castor  an  Docilis  :  gladiators  (cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  44)  or  actors  (cf. 
Serm.  ii.  6.  72). 

20.  Minuci  .  .  .  via :  cf.  Cic.  ad  Att.  ix.  6. 1.    It  seems  to  have  been 
the  road  between  Beneventum  and  Brundisium,  which  Horace  took  on 
his  journey  to  Brundisium. 

21.  damnosa :  ruinous"  cf.  ii.  1.  107,  damnosa  libido.        prae- 
ceps  :  because  it  may  send  one  headlong  to  ruin. 

22.  gloria  :  ostentation. 

23.  argenti  :  money  ;  cf.  i.  2.  44.        importuna :  insatiate  ;  to  be 
taken  with  sitis.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  iii.  57,  auri  sacra  fames. 


PAGE  119.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  18.  351 

24.  fuga:  i.e.  dread  of;  cf.  i.  1.  46,  pauperiem  fugiens. 

25.  decem :  used  as  a  round  number.     See  Introd.  §  50.         in- 
structior  :  better  equipped  ;  used  ironically. 

26.  regit :  i.e.  tries  to  guide  him. 

28.  prope  vera  :  i.e.  what  is  nearly  true  ;  cf.  i.  6.  1,  prope  res  una. 
contendere  :  i.e.  mecum  certare,  line  30. 

29.  patiuntur  :  i.e.  are  enough  for. 

30.  arta  .  .  .  toga :  in  distinction  from  the  flowing  one,  which  was 
at  this  time  regarded  as  a  mark  of  luxury.     Cf.  Epod.  4.  8  ;  Epist.  i. 
19.  13. 

31.  Eutrapelus  :  P.  Volumnius  Eutrapelus,  who  received  his  cog- 
nomen on  account  of  his  wit  (evrpaireKla).      See  Cic.  ad  Fam.  vii.  32 
and  33.    Nepos,  Att.  9.  10. 

32.  beatus  enim  iam  :  for  now  rich,  in  his  own  opinion. 

33.  sumet  :  the  future  represents  the  thought  of  Eutrapelus  as  he 
makes  the  gift. 

34.  in  lucem :  cf.  i.  17.  6. 

35.  officium :  his  duty,  perhaps  with  reference  to  the  salutatio,  or 
perhaps  used  in  a  general  sense.        nummos  alienos  :  a  variation  of 
the  common  aes  alienum.        pascet :  i.e.  will  fatten,  make  great. 
ad  imum  :  worst  of  all ;  the  last  stage  in  his  downward  career. 

36.  Thraex :  a  gladiator  ;  see  note  on  Serm.  ii.  6.  44.        holitoris  : 
a  market  gardener. 

37.  arcanum   .    .   .   scrutaberis :    i.e.   don't  be  too  inquisitive 
about  his  private  affairs.     The  future  is  equivalent  to  a  mild  impera- 
tive,       illius  :  i.e.  the  dives  amicus,  line  24. 

38.  commissum   teges  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  84.        vino  tortus :  cf. 
Odes,  iii.  21.  13,   and  Ars  Poet.  435.         ira :  i.e.  caused  by  some 
slight  put  upon  him  by  his  patron,  which  might  lead  him  to  revenge 
himself  by  betraying  secrets. 

39.  aliena  :  i.e.  the  patron's. 

40.  venari :  since  poemata  panges  suits  the  taste  of  Lollius,  it  is 
probable  that  venari  is  not  a  chance  example,  but  that  his  unknown 
patron  was  fond  of  the  chase  ;  cf.  line  45  below.        panges  :  cf.  Lucr. 
i.  25,  (versibus)  quos  ego  de  rerum  natura  pangere  conor ;  iv.  8. 

41.  gratia  .  .  .  dissiluit :  i.e.  the  bond  of  affection  was  broken. 
The  story  of  the  two  brothers  who  disagreed  about  the  value  of  music 
is  told  in  the  Antiope  of  Euripides,  and  was  familiar  to  the  Romans 
through  the  Antiopa  of  Pacuvius.    It  is  referred  to  by  Cic.  de  Orat. 
ii.  37.  155 ;  de  Inv.  i.  50.  94  ;  de  Eep.  i.  18.  30. 


352  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  18.  [PAGE  119. 

42.    suspecta  :  as  effeminate.        severe  :  by  the  austere  brother, 
i.e.  Zethus  ;  dative  of  the  agent  with  suspecta. 

46.  Aetolis :  doubtless  suggested  by  the  hunt  of  the  Calydonian 
boar.     Such  literary  epithets,  which  were  suggestive  to  the  cultivated 
reader,  are  common  in  the  Augustan  poets.     (See  Sellar,  Roman  Poets 
of  the  Augustan  Age,   Virgil,  p.  235.)        onerata  iumenta:   with 
this  scene,  cf.  i.  6.  58  ff. 

47.  inhumanae :    unsocial.     The   opposite   of    the  geniality  im- 
plied in  humani  nil  a  me  alienum  puto,  Ter.  Heaut.  77.        senium  : 
moroseness,    which   was    sometimes    characteristic   of    old    age ;    cf. 
Cic.  de  Sen.  18.  65,  at  sunt  morosi  et  anxii  et  iracundi  et  difflciles 
senes. 

48.  pariter :  as  well  as  your  patron.        pulmenta  :  cf.  Serm.  ii. 
2.  20. 

49.  sollemne  :  customary,  habitual.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  10.        opus  : 
in  apposition  with  the  preceding  clause ;  cf.  sermo  merus,  Serm.  i. 
4.  48.         famae  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  94  f.;  i.  4.  118. 

52.  speciosius  :  adverb  ;  in  better  form,  than  you.. 

53.  coronae:  the  ring  of  spectators.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  381. 

54.  proelia  campestria  :  the  athletic  games  in  the  Campus  Mar- 
tius.     See  Odes,  i.  8.  5  ff .        saevam  .  .   .  militiam  :  three  years  of 
military  service  formed  a  regular  part  of  the  career  of  a  young  man  in 
the  position  of  Lollius. 

55.  Cantabrica   bella :  the  campaign  against  the  Cantabrians, 
under  the  lead  of  Augustus  himself,  in  27-25  B.C.     Cf.  Odes,  iii.  8.  22  ; 
iv.  14.  41. 

56.  refigit :  is  taking  down  (in  20  B.C.).      Cf.  Odes,  iv.  15.  6  ff. ; 
and  for  the  meaning  of  refigit,  Odes,  i.  28.  11. 

57.  si  quid  abest :  i.e.  he  is  extending  the  Roman  sway  over  the 
whole  world.        adiudicat :  a  technical  term,  used  of  the  iudex  who 
assigned  a  piece  of  land  to  one  of  two  claimants. 

58.  ne  .  .  .  absis :  parenthetical  purpose,  like  ut  ita  dicam,  and 
the  like  ;  not  to  shirk,  you  do  take  part  in  your  patron's  amusements, 
even  though  they  are  not  in  accordance  with  your  tastes.        inex- 
cusabilis  =  inexcusatus.     Cf.flebilis,  Odes,  i.  24.  9. 

59.  extra  numerum  modumque  :  unseemly,  lit.  out  of  time  and 
tune. 

60.  curas :  for  the  indicative  with  quamvis,  see  Introd.  §  45.  b. 
nugaris  :    by  leading  a  sham  battle,  as  described  below.     For  the 
general  meaning  of  the  word,  cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  73. 


PAGE  120.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  18.  353 

61.  Actia  :  in  prose,  and  usually  in  poetry,  the  form  Actiaca  is 
used.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  viii.  675. 

62.  pueros  :  slaves,  or  perhaps  free-born  children  from  the  neigh- 
borhood,       hostili  more  :  i.e.  in  realistic  fashion. 

63.  lacus  :  some  lake  on  or  near  his  estates. 

64.  velox  :  swift ;  with  reference  to  the  wings  with  which  Victory 
is  represented  in  art.         coronet :  the  anticipated  result  of  the  con- 
test ;  hence  the  subjunctive. 

65.  suis  studiis  :  returning  to  the  thought  in  lines  39-40. 

66.  utroque  pollice  :  enthusiastically.     In  the  arena  the  gladiator 
was  approved  pollice  presso,   the   opposite   being  pollicem  vertere. 
tuum  .  .  .  ludum :  i.e.  tua  studia. 

67.  ut  moneam  :  see  note  on  line  58  above. 

68.  quid  de  quoque  :  Porph.  says :  tria  dixit :  quid  dicas,  de  quo 
dicas,  cut  dicas.    If  so,  de  quoque  is  equivalent  to  et  de  quo. 

69.  percontatorem :   the  gossip ;  lit.  '  the  man  who  asks  ques- 
tions.' 

70.  patulae  :  in  a  double  sense,  wide  open,  to  hear  everything,  and 
rimosae,  see  Serm.  ii.  6.  46. 

71.  irrevocabile  :  cf.  Ars  Poet.  390. 

72.  non  .  .  .  ulla :  nulla.    On  non  with  the  volitive  subjunctive, 
see  Serm.  ii.  5.  91,  note.        iecur  ulceret:  i.e.  do  not  fall  in  love 
with  them.     For  iecur  as  the  seat  of  the  emotions,  see  Odes,  i.  13.  4, 
etc. 

74.  pueri  .  .  .  puellae :  appositive  genitive  with  munere. 

75.  parvo  :  of  little  value,  but  which  the  patron  will  regard  as  im- 
posing a  heavy  obligation.        beet :  i.e.  beatum  faciat ;  beo  was  nearly 
obsolete  in  Horace's  time.     The  word  is  in  general  rare  and  confined 
to  poetry.        incommodus :  churlishly ;  the  opposite  of  commodus, 
Odes,  iv.  8.  1.         angat :  i.e.  by  refusing  the  gift. 

76.  qualem  commendes  :  i.e.  what  sort  of  people  you  introduce 
to  him,  and  thus  become  responsible  for. 

78.  quondam:  sometimes.        tradimus:  introduce;  cf.  i.  9.47. 

79.  sua  culpa  :  emphatic,  his  own  fault.        deceptus  :  i.e.  since 
you  have  been  deceived. 

80.  penitus  notum  :   i.e.  a  man   whom  you  thoroughly  know. 
crimina :  (false)  accusations,  calumny,  opposed  to  sua  culpa  in  line 
79. 

82.   Theonino  :  Theon  was  evidently  a  proverbial   calumniator. 
The  Comm.  Cruq.  says:  Luthienus  Theon  libertinus  dicacitatis  amari- 


354  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  18.  [PAGE  120. 

tudine  praeter  ceteros  ita  patronum  suum  exasperavit,  ut  clomo  eius 
summoveretur  et  quaternario  legato  iuberetur  restem  sibi  palumque 
emere.  circumroditur :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  3.  16.  ecquid  .  .  .  sen- 
tis  :  do  you  not  perceive  ? 

84.   paries  .  .  .  ardet :    on  the  common  occurrence  of  fires  at 
Rome,  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  1.  77. 

87.  in  alto :  with  ellipsis  of  man',  on  the  deep. 

88.  hoc  age  :  i.e.  give  your  mind  to  this ;  see  note  on  Serm.  ii.  3. 
152. 

90.  agilem  :  cf.  i.  1 .  16.        navum :  cf.  i.  1 .  24. 

91.  This  line  is  regarded  by  many  as  an  interpolation  from  i.  14.  34. 

93.  formidare  tepores  :  i.e.  abstain  for  your  health's  sake,  to 
avoid  the  heating  effect  of  the  wine. 

94.  nubem  :  a  common  metaphor  in  English  as  well.        plerum- 
que :  often;  cf.  Serm;  ii.  5.  55. 

95.  obscuri:  crafty,  '•dark: 

96.  inter  cuncta  :  amid  all  the  business  of  life.        leges  et  per- 
contabere  :  future  with  the  force  of  a  mild  imperative.         doctos  : 
i.e.  the  philosophers. 

97.  traducere  .  .  .  aevum :  a  variation  of  the  expression  tradu- 
cere  vitam. 

•  98.  semper:  with  agitet;  i.e.  whether  there  is  any  escape. 
inops :  because  it  can  never  be  satisfied,  and  the  only  escape  is  in 
getting  rid  of  it. 

99.  renim  mediocriter  utilium  :   the  expression  is  qualified  by 
mediocriter,  because  it  does  not  include  the  summum  bonum,  virtue. 

100.  virtutem  .  .  .  donet :  i.e.  whether  virtue  can  be  learned  or 
is  inborn. 

101.  tibi  reddat  arnicum  :  the  opposite  in  Plaut.  Bacch.  417,  lam 
aderit  tempus,  quom  sese  etiam  ipse  oderit. 

102.  pure  tranquillet :  sc.te;  gives  ijou  genuine  peace,        honos: 
i.e.  a  successful  political  career.        lucellum :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  82. 

103.  secretum  iter :  i.e.  a  life  of  retirement,     fallentis :  cf.  i. 
17.  10. 

104.  reficit :  restores  me  to  health ;  i.e.  the  cold  baths  ;  cf.  i.  15. 4. 

105.  Mandela:  the  district  adjacent  to  the  modern  Cantalupo  di 
Bardella,  on  the  hills  above  the  confluence  of  the  Digentia  and  the 
Anio,  a  short  distance  from  Horace's  estate.        pagus  :  used  for  the 
inhabitants  of  the  district ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  18.  12. 

106.  sentire :  sc.  me. 


PAGE  123.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  19.  355 

107.  etiam  minus  :  cf.  Epod.  i.  31  ;  Serm.  ii.  6.  3.  ut  vivam : 
on  the  understanding  that  I  am  to  live;  stipulative  subjunctive;  see 
Introd.  §  45.  e.  mihi :  for  myself,  without  social  or  political 
demands  on  my  time.  So-called  'dative  of  advantage.' 

109.  in  annum  :  i.e.  until  the  next  harvest ;  cf.  Pers.  vi.  25,  Messe 
tenuspropria  vive,  et  granaria,  fas  est,  Emole.     Quid  metuas?    Occa; 
et  seges  altera  in  herba  est. 

110.  neu  fluitem  :  cf.  his  advice  to  Tibullus,  i.  4.  12  ff. 

111.  sed  :  a  correction  of  the  preceding  wish,  since  such  a  state  of 
mind  depends  on  oneself.        ponit:  sets  before  one;  cf.  Serm.ii.  2. 
23,  etc. 

EPISTLE  XIX. 

I.  docte:    and    hence    presumably  familiar  with  the  works  of 
Cratinus ;  cf.    Odes,  iii.   8.   5.          Cratino  :   cf.    Serm.  i.   4.   1.     He 
was  famous  for  his  conviviality.      An  epigram  of  his,  which  Horace 
seems  to  have  in  mind,  is  preserved  in  the  Anthologia  Palatina,  xiii. 
29,  (dot56s)  'vdwp  8£  -rrivwv  ovd£v  &i>  rtitot  aotybv. 

3.  potoribus:    dative  of  apparent  agent,  as  in  Serm.  i.  10.  16. 
See  Introd.  §  39.  b.        ut :  ever  since. 

4.  adscripsit :  enrolled  among ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.35. 

6.  laudibus  vini  :  cf.,  e.g.,  Iliad,  vi.  261,  dvSpl  5£  KfKfj-ri&Ti  fj-tvos 
ptya  oIi/os  d^£et.     Ablative  of  cause.        vinosus  :  fond  of  wine,  a  wine- 
bibber  ;  sc.fuisse. 

7.  pater  :    a  title  of  honor ;  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  3.  126.     Ennius 
is  called  the  father  of  Roman  poetry  ;  he  says  of  himself,  Sat.  8,  num- 
quam  poetor  nisi  si  podager. 

8.  prosiluit :  like  the  warriors  he  described ;  cf.  desaevit,  i.  3.  14. 
Forum  putealque  Libonis  :  i.e.  a  business  life.     The  puteal  Libonis 
was  a  place  in  the  Forum,  which  had  been  struck  by  lightning  and 
surrounded  with  a  low  circular  wall.     It  was  between  the  temples  of 
Castor  and  Vesta,  and  the  stalls  of  the  money-changers  were  close  by. 
See  Serm.  ii.  6.  35. 

9.  siccis :  cf.  Odes,  i.  18.  3.        cantare :  the  infinitive,  object  of 
adimam.     See  Introd.  §  46.  d.        severis  :  especially  water-drinkers  ; 
cf.  Catull.  27.  5,  hinc  abite,  lymphae,  Vini pernicies  (i.e.  'water,  which 
only  spoils  wine '),  et  ad  severos  Migrate.     Dative  of  separation. 

10.  edixi  :  i.e.  passed  this  law  ;  see  note  on  ii.  2.  51. 

II,  nocturne  .  .  .  diurno  :  cf.  Ars  Poet.  269.     Instead  of  certare 


356  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  19.  [PAGE  123. 

diurno,  which  the  hearer  would  expect,  Horace  substitutes  putere,  a 
common  rhetorical  device.     Cf.  minora,  Serm.  i.  3.  20. 

13.  exiguae  togae  :  cf.  i.  18.  30,  and  the  note.  textore  :  abla- 
tive of  instrument ;  cf.  tonsore,  i.  1.  94.  Catonem  :  probably  Cato 
Uticensis;  see  Odes,  i.  12.  35. 

15.  larbitam  :  Porph.  says  :  hie  larbutha  (sic)  Maurus  regio  genere 
fuit  ortus,  qui  dum  Timaginem  imitatus  post  convivium  et  inter  pocula 
declamantem,  propter  insolentiam  faciendi  quod  conabatur,  ipse  dirup- 
tus  est.        Timagenis :  Timagenes  was  a  rhetorician  of  Alexandria, 
who  was  brought  to  Home  as  a  prisoner  by  A.  Gabinius  in  55  B.C. 
His  various  fortunes  are  given  by  Sen.  Contr.  x.  5.  22,  ex  captivo 
cocus,  ex  coco  lecticarius,  ex  lecticario  usque  in  intimam  amicitiam 
Caesaris  felix. 

16.  urbanus:  witty. 

17.  vitiis  :  ablative  of  respect  with  imitabile. 

18.  pallerem  :  if  I  were  pale  ;  protasis  contrary  to  fact.        bibe- 
rent :  they  would  drink  ;  i.e.  the  imitators,  who  have  been  implied,  but 
not  yet  directly  mentioned.        exsangue  :  of  the  effect,  like  pallida 
mors,  Odes,  i.  4.  13.     See  Plin.  N.  H.  xx.  160,  omne  cuminum  pallorem 

/  bibentibus  gignit. 

19.  seryum :  used  as  an  adjective,  as  in  Ovid,  Fast.  vi.  558,  serva 
manus. 

20.  bilem :  cf.  Serm.  i.  9.  66 ;  ii.  3.  141. 

21.  libera  :  opposed  to  servum  pecus.        per  vacuum  .  .  .  prin- 
ceps  :  i.e.  a  leader  in  a  new  field;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  30.  11-14. 

/    22.    aliena  :  sc.  vestigia. 

23.  Parios  iambos :  i.e.  the  iambics  of  Archilochus,  of  Paros,  who 
was  the  first  to  make  extensive  use  of  that  metre.     The  reference  is  to 
the  Epodes. 

24.  numeros  animosque  :  the  rhythm  and  spirit. 

25.  non  res  et  agentia  verba :    not  the  subject-matter  and  the 
ivords  which  pursued.        Lycamben  :  a  citizen  of  Paros,  who  refused 
to  give  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  Archilochus  ;  the  latter  thereupon 
lampooned  him  in  such  bitter  language  that  he  hanged  himself  and 
his  daughter. 

26.  foliis  :  cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  29.        brevioribus :  scantier. 

27.  artem :  the  technique. 

28.  temperat :  moulds.        Archilochi  .  .  .  pede :  by  the  meas- 
ure of  Archilochus.        mascula  :  i.e.  strong  and  worthy  to  rank  with 
men. 


PAGE  124.]  BOOK  I.     EPISTLE  19.  357 

29.  ordine  :  arrangement,  probably  with  reference  to  the  strophes. 

30.  socerum  :  like  Lycambes.        atris  :  abusive;  cf.  Epod.  6. 15  ; 
Serm.  i.  4.  85. 

31.  sponsae  :  with  reference  to  Nebule,  the  daughter  of  Lycambes ; 
See  note  on  line  25.         famoso  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  68. 

32.  hunc  :  Alcaeus.     Cf.  Odes,  iii.  30.  13  f. 

33.  immemorata  :  i.e.  words  not  spoken  before  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  1.  2, 
carmina  nonprius  audita. 

34.  ingenuis  :  gentle,  noble ;  i.e.  such  people  as  are  mentioned  in 
Serm.  i.  10.  81-90. 

35.  opuscula  :  cf.  i.  4.  3. 

36.  premat :  equivalent  to  deprimat,  disparages;  cf.  Ars  Poet.  262. 

37.  ventosae  :  fickle  as  the  wind  ;  cf.  i.  8. 12.        suffragia  venor : 
the  .figure  is  from  the  elections,  but  the  reference  is  undoubtedly  to 
the  recitationes ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  38. 

38.  tritae  :  worn  out ;  cf.  Pers.  i.  54,  Scis  comitem  liorridulum  trita 
donare  lacerna. 

39-40.  Horace  listens  to  the  works  only  of  nobilium  scriptorum, 
i.e.  writers  of  real  merit,  and  does  not  himself  recite  his  own  poems, 
except  as  stated  in  Serm.  i.  4.  73. 

39.  ultor :  i.e.  he  gets  even  by  reading  his  works  to  them  in  turn. 
The  expression  is  of  course  used  jocosely. 

40.  grammaticas  ambire  tribus :  like  a  politician  canvassing  for 
votes.        pulpita :  the  reader's  desk,  passing  from  the  figure  to  the 
reality. 

41.  nine  illae  lacrimae :  this  expression,  from  Ter.  Andria,  126, 
had  become  proverbial.         theatris :  i.e.  halls  hired  or  lent  for  reci- 
tations.    Cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  38. 

42.  nugis :  trifles,  a  modest  estimate  of  his  opuscula  /  cf.  Serm.  i. 
9.  2. 

43.  rides:   i.e.  you  are  joking;   cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  54.         ait:   sc. 
quidam.        lovis:  i.e.  Augustus. 

44.  manare  :  used  with  transitive  force. 

45.  tibi  pulcher :  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  v.  22.  63,  (of  poets),  in  hoc 
enim  genere  nescio  quo  pacto  magis  quam  in  aliis  sum  cuique  pulchrum 
est.     Tibi  is  dative  of  the  person  judging.     B.  188,  II.  b.        naribus 
uti :  i.e.  to  turn  up  my  nose  at  them  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  5. 

46.  acuto  .  .  .  ungui:  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  v.  27.  77,  adulescen- 
tium  greges  Lacedaemone  vidimus  ipsi  incredibili  contentions  certantis, 
pugnis,  calcibus,  unguibus,  morsu  denique. 


358  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  20.  [PAGE  124. 

47.  iste  locus :  i.e.  the  place  chosen  by  the  opponent  (note  iste) 
for  the  contest,  as  if  of  gladiators.        diludia :    occurs  only  here. 
Porph.  explains  it  as  intermissionem  ludorum  vel  dilationem. 

48.  ludus:  with  the  double  meaning  of  play  and  sport.        genuit : 
gnomic  perfect ;  see  Introd.  §  44.  d. 

EPISTLE   XX. 

1.  Vertumnum :  Vertumnus  deus  est  praesens  vertendarum  rerum, 
hoc  est  emendarum  ac  vendendarum,  qui  in  vico  Turario  sacellum 
habuit,  Porph.     His  statue  stood  near  the  book-stalls  in  the  Vicus 
Tuscus  (cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  228).        lanum  :  cf.  i.  1.  54.    The  place  desig- 
nated by  Vertumnum  lanumque  was  also  of  bad  repute.     Hence  the 
verb  prostes  in  line  2,  with  a  double  meaning. 

2.  scilicet :    sarcastic.        Sosiorum  :    Sosii  illo  tempore  fratres 
erant  bibliopolae  celeberrimi,  Porph.    Cf.  Ars  Poet.  345,  hie  meret  aera 
liber  Sosiis.         pumice :  the  ends  of  the  roll  which  formed  the  book 
were  smoothed  with  pumice  :  cf.  Catull.  1.  1,  Cut  dono  lepidum  novum 
libellum  Arida  modo  pumice  expolitum  f 

3.  clavis  et  sigilla  :  the  keys  and  seals  with  which  the  scrinia  or 
armarii  were  closed.     The  figure  by  which  the  book  is  compared  with 
the  handsome  slave  is  kept  up  throughout. 

4.  paucis :  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  73.         communia :  cf.  Sen.  Contr.  i.  2. 
5,  meretrix  vocata  es,  in  communi  loco  stetisti. 

5.  non  ita:  i.e.  not  to  desire  publicity.        fuge:  i.e.  hasten  to  go 
your  way,  before  I  change  my  mind.        descendere:    the  regular 
word  for  going  down  to  the  Forum  from  the  hills  about  it,  but  doubt- 
less with  the  secondary  meaning  of  descending  to  a  lower  life. 

6.  emisso  :  when  you  have  once  gone  forth;  cf.  i.  18.  71.         quid 
egi :  the  lament  of  the  book. 

7.  quid  volui :  cf.  Virg.  Eel.  ii.  58,  quid  volui  misero  mihi  ? 

8.  in  breve  cogi :  with  reference  to  the  book,  means  to  roll  up 
and  put  away.        plenus:  sated;  cf.  ii.  1.  100. 

9.  augur:  the  prophet,  i.e.  Horace  himself. 

10.  deserat :    subjunctive  because  of    the  idea  of   anticipation. 
aetas  :  your  youthful  beauty.     Cf.  Afranius,  ap.  Non.  2.  7,  Aetas  el 
corpus  tenerum  et  morigeratio,  Haec  sunt  venena  formosarum  muli- 
erum. 

11.  manibus  sordescere :  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  72. 

12.  tineas  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  119.        inertis  :  in  its  literal  sense  of 


PAGE  125.]  BOOK   I.     EPISTLE  20.  359 

in-ars,  vandal ;  see  Cic.  de  Pin.  ii.  34.  115,  artes,  quibus  qui  carebant 
'  inertes"1  a  maioribus  nominbantur ;  Juv.  iii.  207,  divina  opici  rodebant 
carmina  mures. 

13.  fugles  .  .  .  aut  vinctus  mitteris  :  i.e.  run  away  of  your  own 
accord,  or  be  sent  by  the  book-seller.     Vinctus,  bound  (of  the  slave) 
or  tied  in  a  bundle  (of  the  books).        Uticam  .  .  .  Ilerdam :  used  of 
the  provinces  generally,  where  a  book  which  had  lost  its  popularity  at 
Rome  might  find  a  sale  for  a  time. 

14.  monitor :  referring  to  Horace,  like  augur  in  line  9. 

15.  qui  .  .  .  iratus:  i.e.  the  donkey  driver  lost  his  temper  at  his 
stubborn  animal,  which  he  could  not  keep  from  the  edge  of  a  cliff,  and 
pushed  him  off. 

16.  invitum  servare :  cf.  Ars  Poet.  467. 

17.  pueros   elementa  docentem  :    i.e.  used   as  a  school-book. 
Double  accusative  with  docentem. 

18.  extremis  in  vicis :  i.e.  in  the  suburbs,  in  inferior  schools. 

19.  sol  tepidus:  i.e.  toward  evening,  when  the  sun  is  no  longer 
hot,  and  more  people  are  in  the  streets. 

20.  libertino  natum  patre :  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  46.        in  tenui  re :  cf. 
Serm.  i.  6.  58  f. 

21.  nido :  ablative  of  comparison  with  maiores;  too  great  for  the 
nest.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  310,  corpore  maiorem.        loqueris :  future  with 
the  force  of  a  mild  imperative. 

22.  ut  .  .  .  addas :  i.e.  the  more  obscure  his  origin,  the  greater 
credit  does  he  deserve  for  what  he  has  accomplished. 

24.  corporis   exigui :    of  short  stature;  genitive  of  description. 
Cf.  Serin,  ii.  3.   309.         praecanum  :    probably   prematurely  gray, 
though  prae-  may  be  intensive,  as  it  often  is  in  composition.         soli- 
bus  aptum :  i.e.  fond  of  lounging  in  the  sun. 

25.  irasci  celerem :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  9.  23  ;  Serm.  ii.  3.  323. 

27.  Decembris :  according  to  Suetonius,  Horace  was  born  on  the 
sixth  day  before  the  Ides  (December  8). 

28.  quo  .  .  .  anno  :  i.e.  21  B.C.         dixit :  nominated.    Lollius  was 
elected  without  a  colleague,  since  the  other  consulship  was  intended 
for  Augustus.     When  Augustus  declined  the  position,  Lollius  named 
Lepidus  as  his  colleague.    Dixit  has  little  Ms.  authority  as  compared 
with  duxit,  but  is  the  technical  term. 


360  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  128. 

BOOK   II. 
EPISTLE  I. 

1.  solus:  a  slight  exaggeration,  since  Augustus  had  the  support  of 
Agrippa,  with  whom  he  had  shared  the  proconsular  authority  since 
23  B.C.,  and  the  tribunician  power  since  18  B.C.     Agrippa  had  spent 
most  of  the  time  in  the  East. 

2.  moribus :  Augustus  made  a  great  effort  to  improve  the  morals 
of  the  people.     'Of.  Odes,  iv.  16.  9  ff. 

3.  in  publica  commoda  :  against  the  public  weal. 

4.  morer  tua  tempora :  waste  your  time.     Cf.  te  morer,  Serm. 
i.  1.  14. 

5.  Romulus  .  .  .  Pollux :    all   deified   only  after  death,   while 
Augustus  receives  divine  honors  during  his  earthly  life. 

6.  deorum  in  templa  :    i.e.  into  the  abode  of  the  gods.     Cf. 
Ennius,  Ann.  i.  66  V,  unus  erit  quern  tu  tolles  in  caerula  caeli  Templa. 

7.  colunt:  by  zeugma,  inhabit  .  .  .  care  for. 

8.  agros  adsignant :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  105. 

9.  ploravere:    had  to  lament.        respondere :  correspond'  cf. 
Serm.  ii.  8.  66. 

11.  notaque  .  .  .  portenta :   the  storied  monsters,  overcome  by 
Hercules  in  the  course  of  his  twelve  labors.         fatal! :  imposed  on  him 
by  fate;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  19,  fatalis  index. 

12.  invidiam:  i.e.  the  jealousy  of  Juno.         domari:  as  if  it  too 
were  one  of  the  portenta.        supremo  fine  :  i.e.  only  by  death  ;  cf. 
Serm.  i.  7.  23,  ultima  mors. 

13.  urit :    i.e.  dazzles  and  pains  ;  cf.  i.  10.  43  :  i.  13.  6.        artis  : 
virtues  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  3.  9,  hac  arte. 

14.  exstinctus  amabitur :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  24.  31,  Virtutem  incolumem 
odimus,  Sublatam  ex  oculis  quaerimus,  invidi. 

15.  praesenti  :  while  still  among  us,  in  distinction  from  Hercules 
and  the  heroes  mentioned  in  line  5.        maturos  :  timely. 

16.  iurandas :  i.e.  at  which  oaths  are  to  be  taken.     Cf.  Suet.  Aug. 
62,   templa  .  .  .  in  nulla  provincia   nisi  communi   suo   Eomaeque 
nomine  recepit.    Nam  in  urbe  quidem  pertinacissime  abstinuit  hoc 
honore. 

19.   nostris  ducibus:  e.g.  Romulus.        Grais  :  sc.  ducibus;  e.g. 
Castor,  Pollux,  and  Heracles. 


PAGE  129. J  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  1.  361 

20.  cetera  :  i.e.  in  other  respects ;  in  literary  matters.    Accusative 
of  specification  ;  see  Introd.  §  38.  c. 

21.  terris  semota  :  cf.  line  14  above. 

22.  fastidit  et  odit :  cf.  Tac.  Dial.  23,  rhetorum  nostrorum  com- 
mentaries fastidiunt  oderunt,  Calvi  mirantur. 

23.  vetemm:  neuter,  like  cetera,  semota,  defuncta.        tabulas : 
the  laws  of  the  Twelve  Tables,  which  exerted  an  important  literary 
influence  and  were  used  as  school-books  in  early  times. 

24.  bis  quinque  viri  :  the  decemvirs. 

25.  Gabiis :  dependent  on  the  following  cum,  which,  in  Horace's 
usual  manner,  is  expressed  only  with  the  second  of  the  two  words 
which  it  governs.         aequata :  made  on  equal  terms. 

26.  pontificum  libros:    i.e.  the  books  containing  the  directions 
for  the  ritual,  and  the  annals  of  the  pontiffs   (annales  pontificum, 
annales  maximi).        volumina  vatum  :  such  as  the  Sibylline  books 
and  the  proverbs  and  saws  assigned  to  the  Marcii. 

27.  Albano  .  .  .  monte:    the  Alban  Mount,  with  its  shrine   of 
Juppiter  Latiaris  and  its  sacred  associations,  is  thought  of  as  the  abode 
of  the  Muses,  like  Helicon  in  Greece.        Musas  .  .  .  locutas :  cf. 
Quint,  x.  1.  99,  Varro  Musas,  Aeli  Stilonis  sententia,  Plautino  dicat 
sermone  locuturas  fuisse,  si  Latine  loqui  vellent. 

29.  pensantur  eadem  trutina  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  72.    The  idea  is 
that  if  the  same  rule  is  applied  to  the  Romans,  that  the  oldest  are  the 
best,  there  is  nothing  to  be  said. 

30.  non  est  quod  :  there  is  no  reason  why. 

31.  intra  .  .  .  extra :  adverbs.        olea  :  governed  by  the  follow- 
ing in;  cf.  the  position  of    Gabiis,  line  25  above.    The  thought  is 
this :  '  olives  haven't  stones,  and  nuts  haven't  shells '  ;  a  reductio  ad 
absurdum.        duri  :  genitive  of  the  whole  with  nil  .  .  .  nil. 

32.  venimus  .  .  .  fortunae  :   we    have    conquered   the    Greeks  ; 
therefore,  if  we  argue  as  suggested,  we  surpass  them  in  other  respects 
as  well. 

34.  dies  :  time. 

35.  quotus  annus :  which  year  in  order,  the  answer  being  in  an 
ordinal  number. 

36.  decidit :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  7.  14. 

38.  excludat  .  .  .  finis  :  let  there  be  a  limit,  to  prevent  disputes, 
like  a  boundary-stone  in  a  field. 

39.  probus :  sterling,  classic. 

41.   referendus  erit :  is  he  to  be  counted  ? 


362  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  129. 

43.   iste  :  the  man  you  mention  ;  the  reply  of  the  opponent.        ho- 
neste  :  with  honor,  i.e.  he  will  not  disgrace  his  company. 

45.  utor  permisso:  I  take  advantage  of  the  admission,  i.e.  he 
proceeds,  after  the  manner  of  argument  called  sorites,  gradually  to 
reach  a  limit  where  his  opponent  will  cease  to  admit  that  the  term 
veteres  applies. 

46.  unum:  sc.  annum. 

47.  cadat  elusus :  is  foiled  and  loses  his  case ;  the  subjunctive, 
because  of  the  idea  of  anticipation.        ruentis  acervi:   the  heap, 
Greek  <rwp6s,  from  which  the  style  of  argument  derives  its  name ;  see 
line  45  above. 

48.  redit  in  fastos :  trusts  to  the  calendar. 

49.  Libitina  :  the  goddess  of  death  ;   cf.  Odes,  iii.  30.  7 ;  Serm. 
ii.  6.  19. 

50.  sapiens :    so  called  because  of  his  philosophical  poem,  the 
Epicharmus.        fortis :   because  in  his  Annals  he  sang  the  fortia 
facta  patrum.        alter  Homenis :  Ennius  says  that  Homer  appeared 
to  him  in  a  dream  and  told  him  that  his  soul  had  passed  into  a  peacock, 
and  then  into  Ennius's  body. 

51.  leviter  curare  :  i.e.  securus  esse,  Porph. 

52.  somiiia  Pythgorea  :  see  note  on  alter  Homerus,  line  50.     The 
dream  of  Ennius  is  called  'Pythagorean,'  because  such  transmigra- 
tions of  souls  were  a  prominent  feature  of  Pythagoras's  philosophy. 

53.  Naevius :  see  Introd.  §  17.        in  manibus  :  i.e.  is  still  read. 
non :  equivalent  to  nonne  ;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  20.  1. 

54.  paene  recens:  i.e.  almost  as  if  he  were  a  modern  writer. 

56.  Pacuvius:  see  Introd.  §  18.        docti  .  .  .  alti :   cf.  Quint. 
x.  1.  97,  virium  Accio  plus  tribuitur,  Pacuvium  mderi  doctiorem,  qui 
esse  docti  affectant,  volunt.        Accius  :  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  10.  53. 

57.  Afrani  :  Lucius  Afranius,  born  in  154  B.C.,  a  writer  of  togatae, 
or  comedies  based  on  Roman  life  ;  hence  the  expression  Afrani  toga. 
A  few  fragments  of  his  works  have  come  down  to  us.         Menandro : 
'  the  star  of  the  new  comedy,'  an  Athenian,  who  lived  from  342—291 
B.C.     Only  fragments  of  his  works  have  been  preserved. 

58.  properare :  of  the  vivacity  and  rapid  action  of  his  comedies. 
Epicharmi  :  a  famous  writer  of  the  so-called  Sicilian  comedy,  which 
was  developed  from  the  Doric  farce.     He  was  born  in  Cos  in  540  B.C., 
but  went  as  a  boy  to  Sicilian  Megara  and  thence  to  Syracuse,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  in  450  B.C. 

59.  Caecilius :  a  Roman  comic  writer,  a  native  of  Insubrian  Gaul, 


.PAGE  130.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  1.  363 

who  lived  from  219-166  B.C.  Only  a  few  fragments  of  his  works  have 
survived,  but  he  was  ranked  high  by  the  ancients.  Terentius  :  the 
well-known  writer  of  comedy  (185-159  B.C.). 

60.  ediscit :  with  reference  to  the  epic  poets  first  mentioned.  Cf. 
Cic.  Tusc.  Disp.  ii.  11.  27,  poetae  ita  .  .  .  dulces,  ut  non  legantur 
modo,  sed  etiam  ediscantur.  arto  :  i.e.  too  small  for  the  large 
audiences. 

62.  Livi :  i.e.  Livius  Andronicus,  whose  first  play  was  produced 
in  240  B.C. 

63.  est  ubi :  i.e.  sometimes. 

64.  ita  :  to  such  a  degree. 

66.  pleraque:  much;  the  more  common  meaning  of  the  word 
after  Cicero. 

67.  ignave  :  carelessly,  with  too  little  art ;  sc.  dicere. 

68.  mecum  facit :  i.e.  it  agrees  with  me.        love  .  .  .  aequo  : 
propitio.   si  quidem   love  irato   jit  ut  errent   homines  ac  delirent, 
Porph.     Cf.   Serin,    ii.    3.    8,   iratis  dis.     There  may  be  a  compli- 
mentary reference  to  Augustus ;  cf.  i.  19.  43. 

69.  Livi  :  Livius  Andronicus. 

70.  plagosum :    apparently   not    elsewhere    used  in    the    active 
sense.     See  Introd.  §  1.  XV/^       /  3 

71.  Orbilium  :  one  of  Horace's  teachers  at  Rome.        dictare : 
dictated,  to  be  learned  by  heart,  the  usual  method  of  instruction ;  cf. 
i.  1.  65  ;"i.  18.  13  ;  Serm.  i.  10.  75.        videri:  i.e.  to  their  admirers. 

72.  exact! s :  perfect  works. 

74.  concinnior  :  better  turned.        unus  et  alter  :  one  or  two. 

75.  ducit :  carries  with  it. 

76.  quicquam :  anything,  used  instead  of  aliquid,  because  of  the 
negative  implied  in  indignor  =non  probo,  ferre  non  possum,  or  the 
like.        crasse  :  coarsely,  roughly  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  3. 

77.  nuper  :  sc.  compositum  sit. 

78.  antiquis :  either  neuter  or  masculine.     See  Introd.  §  49.  b. 

79.  crocum  floresque  :  i.e.  the  stage,  which  was  perfumed  with 
saffron-water.     Cf.  Lucr.  ii.  416,  cum  scaena  croco  Cilici  perfusa  re- 
cens  est;  Prop.  iv.  1.  16,  pulpita  sollemnes  non  oluere  crocos.     There 
is  no  other  reference  to  flowers  on  the  stage.     Porph.  takes  flores  as 
referring  to  a  play  of  Atta's :  in  fabula  quae  inscribitur  Matertera  ita 
florum  genera  enumerat,  ut  sine  dubio  reprehendendus  sit  ob  nimian 
loquacitatem.     The  general  meaning  seems  to  be :    '  if  I   express  a 
doubt  whether  the  plays  of  Atta  ought  still  to  be  produced. '        Atta : 


364  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  130. 

a  writer  of  togatae,  contemporary  with  Afranius  (see  line  57).     He 
died  in  77  B.C. 

81.  patres  :  the  older  men. 

82.  Aesopus  .  .  .  Roscius :  two  actors  of  the  Ciceronian  epoch, 
of  whom  the  former  was  a  great  tragic  actor,  while  the  latter  excelled 
in  comedy;   hence  the  adjectives,   grams,   'dignified,'   and  doctus, 
'clever.' 

84.  parere  minoribus:  i.e.  to  follow  the  taste  of  the  younger 
generation. 

85.  imberbes  :  in  their  youth.        senes  :  in  their  old  age. 

86.  Saliare  .  .  .  carmen :  the  hymns  of  the  Salii,  a  priesthood 
said  by  Livy  (i.  20)  to  have  been  instituted  by  Numa,  are  preserved 
in  a  few  fragments.     They  were  almost  unintelligible  in  later  times. 
Cf.  Quint,  i.  6.  40,  Saliorum  carmina  vix  sacerdotibus  suis  satis  intel- 
lecta. 

87.  quod  mecum  ignorat :  i.e.  of  which  he  knows  as  little  as  I. 
89.    nostra  .  .  .  nos  nostraque  :   emphatic.     His  conduct  is  due 

not  to  admiration  of  the  past,  but  to  envy  of  his  contemporaries. 
lividus  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  93. 

92.  tereret :  wear  out,  thumb.       viritim  :  individually.       publi- 
cus  usus:  the  general  public  ;  abstract  for  concrete. 

93.  positis  .  .  .  bellis :  probably  referring  to  the  Persian  wars, 
which  were  followed  by  great  literary  activity  at  Athens.         nugari : 
to  amuse  herself,  in  distinction  from  the  stern  business  of  war. 

94.  in  vitium :  from  the  Roman  point  of  view,  which  regarded 
all  such  pursuits  as  unworthy  of  serious  attention.        fortuna  .  .  . 
aequa :  since  fortune  was  kind.        labier  :  to  drift.     On  the  archaic 
form,  see  Introd.  §  35.  a. 

95.  athletarum :    with  reference  to  the  great  national  games. 
equomm :  for  the  chariot  races. 

96.  fabros :  workers  in. 

97.  suspendit  .  .  .  voltum  mentemque  :  fixed  eyes  and  mind 
on.     Cf.  i.  6.  14. 

98.  tibicinibus :  music  in  general. 

99.  sub  nutrice  :   at  its  nurse1  s  feet.        puella :   the  feminine, 
because  the  comparison  is  with  Graecia. 

100.  quod  .  .  .  petiit  .  .  .  reliquit :  cf.  Ars  Poet.  160.        plena : 
cf.  i.  20.  8. 

102.   paces :  the  plural,  because  the  reference  is  to  periods  of 
peace. 


PAGE  132.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  365 

103.  diu  :  in  contrast  with  the  early  development  of  the  arts  in 
Greece.         sollemne :  customary.         reclusa  .  .  .  domo  vigilare : 
to  be  up  early  with  open  house ;  to  receive  calls  of  clients ;  cf.  Serm. 
i.  1.  10. 

104.  promere  iura :  in  early  times,  until  the  publication  of  the 
Twelve  Tables,  knowledge  of  the  law  was  confined  to  the  patricians. 

105.  cautos   nominibus    rectis:    secured  by  good  names,   i.e. 
those  of  responsible  debtors.     With  the  meaning  of  nominibus,  cf. 
Serm.  i.  2.  16. 

106.  maiores  audire  :  i.e.  to  receive  instruction  and  counsel  from 
older  men.        per  quae  .  .  .  posset :  to  be  taken  both  with  audire 
and  dicere. 

107.  damnosa  libido  :    cf.  i.  18.  21. 

108.  calet:  is  fired. 

110.  fronde :  i.e.  with  the  ivy  sacred  to  poets ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  29. 
comas :  accusative  governed  by  vincti,  which  has  a  middle  force.    See 
Introd.  §  38.  c.         dictant :  i.e.  to  an  amanuensis  (notarius).     Cf. 
Serm.  i.  10.  92. 

111.  qui  .  .  .  versus;  cf.  i.  1.  10. 

112.  Parthis  mendacior :  a  proverbial  expression  ;  cf.  Livy,  xxi. 
4.  9,  perfidia  plus  quam  Punica ;  a  common  opinion  of  a  powerful 
enemy.         prius  orto  sole  vigil :  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  122.     The  Romans 
frequently  composed  before  getting  up  in  the  morning. 

114.  habrotonum  :  a  bitter  herb,  apparently  a  kind  of  wormwood. 
Cf.  Lucr.  iv.  125  (Munro's  note).     It  is  mentioned  by  Plin.  N. H.  xxi. 
160  as  a  medicine.     Porphyrio's  comment  is,  quod  minore  periculo 
etiam  indoctus  miscere  potest  et  dare,  which  makes  the  comparison  all 
the  stronger. 

115.  medicorum  .  .  .  medici  :  the  repetition  makes  the  state- 
ment the  more  emphatic. 

116.  promittunt:  almost  =profitentur. 

117.  indocti  doctique :  skilled  and  unskilled,  i.e.  even  without 
special  preparation,  in  contrast  with  lines  114-116. 

118.  error:  i.e.   this  departure  from  the  life  described  in  lines 
103-107. 

119.  sic  collige:  cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  51.        avarus :  cf.  Ovid,  Ars 
Amat.  iii.  541,  Nee  nos  ambitio  nee  amor  nos  tangit  habendi. 

120.  non  temere  :  i.e.  is  not  apt  to  be. 

121.  fugas  servorum,  incendia :  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  76  f. 

122.  fraudem  socio :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  24.  59  f. 


366  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  132. 

123.  vivit  .  .  .  secundo  :  i.e.  he  is  not  luxurious.  Pane  secundo 
(ablative  of  instrument)  refers  to  coarse  bread  called  panis  secundarius. 
Cf .  Suet.  Aug.  76,  cibi  .  .  .  minimi  erat  (Augustus)  atque  vulgaris 
fere.     Secundarium  panem  .  .  .  appetebat. 

124.  militiae  :  locative  or  genitive  (see  In  trod.  §  40.  c). 

125.  si  das  :  if  you  admit.        parvis  rebus  :  such  as  are  enu- 
merated in  the  following  .lines. 

126.  figurat :  moulds,  since  reading  was  taught  from  the  works  of 
the  poets. 

127.  obscaenis :  such  as  he  heard  from  his  nurse  and  the  paeda- 
gogus;  cf.  Tac.  Dial.  29.        iam  nunc  :  i.e.  even  now,  in  early  child- 
hood, when  his  mind  is  tener. 

128.  niox  etiani :  i.e.  when  his  mind  is  ready  for  such  instruction. 

130.  orientia  tempora  :  the  rising  generation;  abstract  for  con- 
crete,       notis  .  .  .  exemplis:  familiar  examples,  drawn  from  the 
history  of  great  and  good  men. 

131.  aegnim  :   sick  at  heart. 

132.  cum  pueris  puella :  with  reference  to  the  chorus  in  the 
Carm.  Saec.  ;    see  Carm.  Saec. 

134.  praesentia  :  propitious. 

135.  caelestis  .   .  .  aquas:  cf.  Carm.  Saec.  31  f.         docta:   i.e. 
taught  it  by  the  poet.        blandus  :  persuasive  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  1 .  8. 

138.  Manes:  i.e.  di  Manes,  in  distinction  from  di  superi.     Cf. 
Virg.  Aen.  xii.  646,  vos  o  mihi  manes,  Este  boni,  quoniam  superis  aversa 
voluntas. 

139.  agricolae  prisci  :  the  development  of  dramatic  poetry  from 
the  harvest  festival.         fortes  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  115.        parvo  beati  : 
Virg.  Georg.  ii.  472,  patiens  operum  exiguoque  adsueta  iuventus. 

141.  spe  finis  :  i.e.  by  the  hope  of  rest  at  the  end  of  the  year's  toil. 

142.  pueris  et  coniuge  :  who  helped  him  in  his  work,  before  the 
days  of  slaves.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  115. 

143.  Tellurem :  the  earth,  mentioned  by  Varro,  M.  7?.  i.  1.  5,  as 
one  of  the  gods  of  the  farmer.        porco  :  a  sow  ;  cf.  Cato,  de  Agr.  134, 
priusquam  messim  fades,  porcam  praecidaneam  hoc  modo  fieri  (i.e. 
'sacrificed')  oportet.      Cereri  porco  femina.     Porco  is  an  epicene 
noun.        Silvanum :  a  rustic  god  of  the  fields  and  woods,  and  pro- 
tector of  boundaries  ;  cf.  Epod.  2.  22. 

144.  Genium:  cf.  i.  7.  94.        memorem  brevis  aevi:   because 
the  life  of  the  genius  is  identified  with  that  of  man  ;  logically  memorem 
belongs  with  the  subject. 


PAGE  133.]  BOOK   II.    EPISTLE  1.  367 

145.  Fescennina  licentia :  the  earliest  form  of  the  drama,  a  sort 
of*  rude  banter.  See  Paul.  Fest.  p.  60,  Fescennini  versus,  qui  caneban- 
tur  in  nuptiis,  ex  urbe  Fescennia  dicuntur  allati,  sive  ideo  dicti  quia 
fascinum  putdbantur  arcere.  Very  likely,  as  has  been  suggested, 
the  derivation  of  the  word  is  from  fascinum,  but  its  form  is  due  to 
the  influence  of  the  word  Fescennia,  with  which  it  was  connected 
by  popular  etymology.  The  Fescennine  verses  survived  in  classical 
times  in  wedding  songs  and  in  the  songs  of  the  soldiers  during 
triumphs.  Cf.  Livy,  vii.  2. 

147.  accepta :  handed  down. 

148.  amabiliter  :  in  a  friendly  way,  i.e.  without  ill-feeling.      iam 
saevus :  sc.  factus,  finally  becoming  savage,  contrasted  with  amabi- 
liter. 

149.  coepit :  in  classical  prose  the  passive  of  coepit  is  commonly 
used  with  a  passive  infinitive. 

150.  impune :  because  not  yet  restricted  by  law.        cruento  : 
which  drew  blood. 

151.  intactis  quoque:   even  those  who  were  not  assailed;  cf. 
Serm.  ii.  1.  23,  cum  sibi  quisque  timet,  quamquam  est  intactus. 

152.  super :  with  the  force  of  de.     Found  in  early  Latin  and  Livy  ; 
in  Cicero  only  in  the  Letters.        lex  poenaque :  first  in  the  Twelve 
Tables,  with  a  capital  penalty  ;  cf.  Cic.  de  Sep.  iv.  10.  12.     Also  in  the 
Lex  Cornelia  of  81  B.C. 

153.  malo :   abusive ;  cf.   Serm.  ii.    1.   82.        nollet :   almost  = 
vetaret. 

154.  describi:   cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  3.        vertere  modum :   cf.  our 
colloquial  expression,    'changed  their  tune.'         fustis:    death  was 
inflicted  in  early  times  by  fustuarium,  beating  to  death.     Cf.  Livy,  v. 
6.  14,  fustuarium  meretur  qui  signa  relinquit  aut  praesidio  decedit. 

156.  Graecia  capta :  the  first  Roman  writer,  Livius  Andronicus, 
was  a  Greek  captive  from  Tarentum,  and  the  influence  of  Greek  models 
on  the  Roman  literature  was  very  great.     Greece  was  not  actually  con- 
quered by  Rome  until  146  B.C.,  but  the  dates  must  not  be  pressed. 

157.  horridus :  rude,  uncouth. 

158.  defluxit:  passed  out  of  use.        numerus  Saturnius:  the 
native  Roman  metre,  occurring  seldom  except  in  the  earliest  poetry, 
e.g.  the  Punic  War  of  Naevius.     Whether  it  was  based  on  quantity  or 
on  accent  is  a  disputed  point.         grave  virus :  *  noisome  venom."1 

160.  vestigia  ruris:  traces  of  rustic  rudeness;  cf.  agresti  Latio, 
line  157. 


BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  133. 

161.  serus:  sc.ferus  victor,  from  line  156.        acumina  :  it  is  im- 
plied that  the  Romans  had  the  ability  to  succeed  in  literature,  but  did 
not  apply  themselves  to  it  until  late. 

162.  post  .  .  .  quietus:  i.e.  having  a  period  of  peace  after  the 
second  Punic  war. 

163.  Sophocles  .  .  .  Thespis  .  .  .  Aeschylus :  representing  the 
growth  of  the  Greek  tragic  drama,  Thespis  being  its  reputed  founder. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Romans  adapted  the  plays  of  Euripides  more 
than  those  of  Aeschylus  and  Sophocles.     The  name  Euripides  will  not 
fit  into  hexameter  verse  in  the  nominative. 

164.  rem:  i.e.  the  subject-matter.        vertere  :  translate.       pos- 
set: an  indirect  question,  introduced  by  si  ;  cf.  posset,  Serm.  ii.  5.  87. 

165.  placuit  sibi:  i.e.  was  satisfied  with  the  result.        sublimis 
et  acer :  the  lofty  and  vigorous  character  of  the  early  Romans  fitted 
them  for  the  writing  and  appreciation  of  tragedy.     It  soon  lost  its 
popularity,  however. 

166.  spirat  tragicum :  has  tragic  inspiration;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  16.  38  ; 
Serm.  i.  4.  46.     Tragicum  is  accusative  of  the  inner  object.     See  In- 
trod.  §  38.  b.        satis :  perhaps  modifies  feliciter  audet :  i.e.  the  early 
tragic  writers  were  measurably  successful  in  innovations  in  language  ; 
so  especially  Ennius  and  Pacuvius. 

167.  turpem :  because  it  seems  too  mechanical.        metuit :  on  ac- 
count of  the  labor  involved.     With  the  whole  passage,  cf.  Ars  Poet. 
289  ff. 

168.  ex  medio:  i.e.  from  every-day  life. 

170.  oneris :    i.e.   the  labor  of  revision  and  of  careful  writing. 
veniae :   indulgence,  since  the  common  people  can  see  weaknesses 
in  plays  which  depict  their  own  life. 

171.  quopacto:  i.e.  how  carelessly.        ephebi :  a  youth;  really 
a  Greek  word  meaning  a  young  man  between  18  and  20  years  of  age. 

172.  attenti :  cf.  i.  7.  91 ;  Serm.  ii.  6.  82.    These  are  stock  char- 
acters in  the  comedies  of  Plautus  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  40. 

173.  quantus   Dossennus:    what  a  Dossennus  he  (Plautus')  is. 
Dossennus  was  a  stock  character,  the  buffoon  or  clown,  in  thefabulae 
Atellanae,  an  early  Italian  (Oscan)  form  of  the  drama.     See  Livy, 
vii.  2.  11-12. 

174.  quam  non  adstricto  .  .  .  socco :  with  what  a  loose  sock. 

175.  gestit  .  .  .  demittere :  that  is,  he  aims  only  at  making  money 
without  regard  to  artistic  work  ;  hardly  a  fair  criticism  of  Plautus. 

176.  securus:   indifferent;  cf.  leviter  curare,  line  51.        cadat 


PAGE  134.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  369 

.  .  .  talo :  i.e.  fails  or  succeeds.  The  plays  were  sold  outright,  and 
their  success  or  failure  was  a  matter  of  unconcern  to  the  author  from 
the  pecuniary  point  of  view ;  recto  talo,  squarely,  is  an  expression  bor- 
rowed from  the  Greek. 

177.  quern  tulit  .  .  .  Gloria :  i.e.  the  poet  who  writes  plays  for 
fame  and  not  for  money.        ventoso   curru:   in  her  wind-wafted 
chariot.     Cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  23.     Ventoso  suggests  the  fickleness  of  popular 
favor  ;  cf.  i.  19.  37. 

178.  exanimat:  kills  with  anxiety.        lentus:  cold.     Cf.  Odes, 
iii.  19.  28  ;  iv.  13.  6. 

180.  valeat :  good-by  to.        res  ludicra :  i.e.  comedy. 

181.  reducit:  brings  me  home,  from  the  theatre.     Cf.  Odes,  iv. 
2.  17. 

182.  audacem  .  .  .  poetam  :  i.e.  the  poet  who  is  bold  enough  to 
try  to  write  artistically  and  elegantly. 

184.  depugnare :  to  fight  the  matter  out,  i.e.  to  have  their  way  by 
force  against  the  more  cultured  part  of  the  audience. 

185.  eques:  the  knights,  the  more  cultivated  part  of  the  specta- 
tors.    Cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  76.         poscunt  .  .  .  pugiles:  a  similar  thing 
actually  happened  to  Terence.     Cf.  Hec.  Prol.  1.1-5;  2.  25-34. 

186.  pugiles :  cf.  Suet.  Aug.  45,  (Augustus}  spectavit  studiossisime 
pugiles  et  maxime  Latinos.        plebecula :  the  dear  people ;  note  the 
force  of  the  diminutive. 

187.  migravit  ab  aure :  i.e.  they  no  longer  take  pleasure  in  the 
language  and  rhythm  of  the  plays,  but  look  for  spectacular  features. 
The  Romans  were  fond  of  realistic  effects  and  of  extravagant  display  ; 
see  Cic.  ad  Fam.  vii.  1. 

188.  incertos :  roving,  because  they  are  not  fixed  as  the  ear  is  by 
the  rhythm. 

189.  premuntur  :    are  kept  down,  i.e.  a  play  goes  on  for  many 
hours  with  spectacular  effects  of  all  kinds.     In  the  ancient  theatre  the 
curtain  was  lowered  at  the  beginning  of  a  performance  and  raised  at 
its  close. 

190.  fugiunt :  fly  across  the  stage. 

191.  regum  fortuna :    for  reges  fortunati,  kings  once  favored 
by  fortune  ;  cf.  Catonis  virtus,  Odes,  iii.  21. 11.        manibus  retortis  : 
cf.  Odes,  iii.  5.  22. 

192.  pilenta  :  two-wheeled  covered  carriages,  used  by  women,  in 
which  the  priestesses  and  vestals  rode  in  the  triumphal  procession. 
petorrita  :    cf.    Serm.  i.  6.   104.        naves :   probably  the  beaks  of 


370  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  134. 

ships  (rostra},  though  ships  themselves  may  have  been  carried  in 
the  processions.  Cf.  Prop.  ii.  1.  33,  regum  auratis  circumdata  colla 
catenis,  Actiaque  in  Sacra  currere  rostra  via. 

193.  captiva  Corinthus  :  i.e.  the  spoils  of  Corinth.  Sometimes 
paintings  of  cities  were  carried  in  the  triumph,  as  well  as  those  of 
other  features  of  the  victory.  Cf.  Cic.  Pis.  25.  60,  quid  tandem  habet 
iste  currus?  quid  vincti  ante  currum  duces?  quid  simulacra  oppido- 
rum?  quid  aurum?  quid  argentum? 

195.  diversum  .  .  .  camelo :  the  camelopard  or  giraffe.  Cf. 
Plin.  N.  H.  viii.  69,  camelopardalis  dictatoris  Caesaris  Circensibus 
ludis  primum  visa  Eomae  (in  46  B.C.).  For  the  construction  of 
genus,  see  Introd.  §  38.  c. 

197.  spectaret :  sc.  Democritus. 

198.  nimio  .  .  .  plura  :  cf.  i.  10.  30. 

199.  scriptores  :  i.e.  the  authors  of  the  plays.        narrare  asello 
surdo  :  a  proverbial  expression. 

200.  voces :    of   actors.        pervincere  :   overcome,  rise   above ; 
Ars  Poet.  82. 

201.  evaluere  :  a  use  of  the  perfect  parallel  to  that  of  the  gnomic 
perfect,  have  been  able  to,  and  so  are  able  to,  will  be  able  to. 

202.  Garganum  .  .  .  nemus :    cf.  Odes,  ii.  9.  7.         mugire  :  cf. 
Odes,  iii.  10.  6. 

203.  artes :  works  of  art,  carried  in  the  processions  described  in 
line  191  f.     For  this  meaning  of  artes,  cf.  i.  6.  17. 

204.  oblitus :  note  the  quantity  of  the  i.      The  idea  is  that  of 
being  overloaded  with  excessive  adornment. 

205.  concurrit  .  .  .  laevae :  i.e.  in  applause.         dextera  .  .  . 
laevae  :  sc.  manus  .  .  .  manui,  and  see  Introd.  §  49.  6. 

206.  dixit  .  .  .  aliquid  ?   the  words  of  one  spectator  to  another, 
on  hearing  the  applause.        sane  :  emphasizes  nil;  cf.  i.  7.  61. 

207.  lana :   i.e.  the  actor's  dress.         Tarentino  .  .  .  veneno: 
Tarentine  dye,  considered  second  only  to  the  Tyrian  purple  ;  cf.  Plin. 
N.  H.  ix.  137. 

208.  ne  .  .  .  putes :     Horace   disclaims  any  prejudice  against 
dramatic  poetry  as  such.     A  parenthetical  final  clause. 

209.  maligne :  grudgingly,  in  niggardly  wise ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  28.  23. 

210.  per  extentum  ...  ire  :  proverbial  for  anything  difficult. 

211.  inaniter :  with  illusions,  i.e.  by  a  mere  representation  of  the 
reality.     Cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  464,  animum  pictura  pascit  inani. 

213.    ut  magus,  et :  and  like  a  magician.    Note  the  hyperbaton. 


PAGE  135.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  1.  371 

214.  et  his  :  to  these  as  well ;  i.e.  the  writers  of  other  than  dramatic 
literature.  lectori  :  of  book-poetry,  contrasted  with  spectatoris. 

216.  redde :  give  (as  their  due).  Cf.  Odes,  ii.  7.  17,  etc. 
munus  .  .  .  dignum:  the  library  in  the  temple  of  Apollo  on  the 
Palatine.  Cf.  i.  3.  17. 

218.  Helicona :  a  mountain  in  southwestern  Boeotia,  regarded  as 
the  abode  of  the  Muses. 

219.  niulta  .  .  .  facimus  :  i.e.  we  are  in  part  to  blame,  since  we 
submit  our  works  to  you  at  unfavorable  times.    Cf.  Martial,  x.  19. 12  ff. 

220.  vineta  .  .   .  caedam  :    apparently  a  proverbial  expression 
for  injuring  oneself.     Cf.  Tibull.  i.  2. 100,  quid  messis  uris  acerba  tuas? 
Caedam  therefore  means  cut  down,  destroy. 

221.  cum  laedimur,  etc. :  i.  e.  when  we  are  too  sensitive  to  criticism. 

223.  cum  loca  .  .  .  revolvimus  :   i.e.  when  we  repeat  passages 
which  we  consider  fine,  without  being  asked  to  do  so  (inrevocati). 

224.  non  apparere  labores  :  that  our  labor  is  not  appreciated. 

225.  tenui  deducta  filo  :  a  common  metaphor.     Cf.,  e.g.,  Serm. 
i.  10.  44. 

226.  cum  speramus,  etc.  :  when  we  hope  for  immediate  recogni- 
tion. 

227.  ultro:  i.e.  making  the  advances. 

229.  operae  pretium :  worth  while  ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  2.  37. 

230.  aedituos :  the  temple-keepers,  who  showed  shrines  to  visitors, 
and  pointed  out  their  beauties.    Poets  are  represented  metaphorically 
as  performing  this  service  for  virtus. 

233.  Choerilus  :  an  epic  poet  of  lasos  who  followed  Alexander 
into  Asia  and  wrote  of  his  deeds.        versibus :  dative  ;  the  money 
was  set  down  to  the  credit  of  his  verses,  as  if  to  a  person.        male 
natis :  misbegotten. 

234.  rettulit  acceptos :  entered  (in  his  account  book)  as  received. 
Philippos :  gold  coins  worth  about  $4.00;  so-called  because  they  bore 
an  image  of  Philip  of  Macedon ;  cf.  the  French  Louis,  Louis  d'or; 
English,  sovereign. 

235.  remittunt :  leave,  i.e.  cause.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  4.  69 ;  Ars  Poet. 
349. 

236.  fere  :  as  a  rule. 

237.  linunt:  besmear,  the  word  being  due  to  the  preceding  com- 
parison.    Cf.,  however,  oblitus,  line  204. 

239.  edicto  vetuit:  cf.  Plin.  JV.  H.  vii.  125,  idem  hie  imperator 
edixit  nequis  ipsum  alius  quam  Apelles  pingeret,  quam  Pyrgoteles  seal- 


372  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  1.  [PAGE  135. 

peret,  quam  Lysippus  ex  aere  duceret.  Cf.  also  Cic.  ad  Fam.  v.  2. 
Apellen  :  the  most  famous  of  Greek  painters,  an  Ionian  by  birth. 
Many  stories  are  told  of  the  realism  of  his  pictures. 

240.  alius  Lysippo :  other  than  Lysippus ;  ablative  of  compari- 
son ;  cf.  i.  16. 20.    Lysippus  was  one  of  the  most  noted  Greek  sculptors, 
a  native  of  Sicyon.     See  Plin.  JV".  H.  xxxiv.  63,  nobilitatur  Lysippus  et 
temulenta  tibicine  et  canibus  ac  venatione.     Fecit  et  Alexandrum  Mag- 
num multis  operibus  a  pueritia  eius  ortus.    See  note  on  line  241  below. 
aera :  bronze  statues. 

241.  voltum  simulantia  :   cf.  Prop.  iii.  9.  9,   Gloria  Lysippi  est 
animosa  effingere  signa. 

242.  iudicium  subtile:    cf.  Serm.  ii.  7.  101.      PJin.  N.  H.  xxxv. 
85,  however,  says  :  Alexandro  Magno  frequenter  in  officinam  venti- 
tanti  .  .  .  imperite  tnulta  disserenti  (Apelles)  silentium  comiter  sua- 
debat,  rideri  eum  dicens  a  pueris,  qui  colores  tererent.          artibus : 
works  of  art ;  cf.  line  203  above. 

243.  adlibros  .  .  .  et  dona :  i.e.  to  literary  works  in  distinction 
from  painting  and  statuary. 

244.  Boeotum :  genitive  plural.     The  Boeotians  were  proverbial 
in  ancient  times  for  stupidity,  and  the  characteristic  was  attributed  to 
the  heavy  air  of  their  moist,  swampy  country.     Cf.  Cic.  de  Fato,  4.  7, 
Athenis  tenue  caelum,  ex  quo  etiam  acutiores  putantur  Attici;  eras- 
sum  Thebis,  itaque  pingues  Thebani. 

246.  munera :  Virgil  is  said  to  have  received  1,000,000  sesterces 
for  the  lines  on  Marcellus  in  Aen.  vi.  862  ff.,  and  Varius  the  same  sum 
for  his  tragedy  Tfiyestes. 

247.  Varius :  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  5.  40. 

248.  expressi  :  depicted;  cf.  Cic.  Arch.  6.  14,  quam  multas  nobis 
imagines  fortissimorum  virorum  expressas  scriptores  Graeci  et  Latini 
reliquerunt. 

250.  sermones:    referring   both    to  the   Sermones  and  to  the 
Epistles  ;  see  Introd.  §  24. 

251.  repentis  per  humum  :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  17,  musa  pedestri. 
res  .  .  .  gestas:  i.e.   an  epic  poem  dealing  with  the  exploits  of 
Augustus. 

252.  terrarumque  situs,  etc.  :  i.e.  the  descriptions  of  the  scenes 
of  the  epic. 

254.  duella :  the  archaic  form  of  bella.  In  this  passage,  as  in 
Serm.  ii.  1.  13  f.,  Horace  gives  an  idea  of  what  he  might  have  done  in 
the  epic  line. 


PAGE  138.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  2.  373 

255.  claustraque  .  .  .  lanum :  referring  to  the  closing  of  the 
temple  of  Janus  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  15.  9. 

256.  Parthis  :   one  of  the  deeds  of  which  Augustus   was   most 
proud,  which  the  poets  of  the  Augustan  age  constantly  refer  to,  was 
the  recovery  of  the  standards  lost  by  Crassus  at  Carrhae  in  53  B.C. 

257.  parvum  :  humble. 

258.  recipit:  admit. 

259.  vires  ferre  recusent  :  cf.  Ars  Poet.  39. 

260.  stulte:  emphatic,  modifying  diligit ;  who  foolishly  attempts 
devotion  beyond  his  powers.        urget :  i.e.  vires  ferre  recusant,  and  it 
crushes  him. 

261.  numeris  et  arte  :  i.e.  in  poetry.         commendat :  recom- 
mends; cf.  i.  18.  7. 

262.  discit :  sc.  aliquis,  implied  in  quis  below.    The  idea  is  that 
one  remembers  faults  more  easily  than  one  does  merits.     Cf.  Cic.  de 
Orat.  i.  28.  129,  nihil  est  enim  tarn  insigne  nee  tarn  ad  diuturnitatem 
memoriae  stabile  quam  id,  in  quo  aliquid  offenderis. 

264.  nil  moror  :  I  care  nothing ;  cf.  i.  15.  16.        ofn'cium  quod 
me  gravat :  cf.  sedulitas  .  .  .  urguet,  line  260. 

265.  proponi  cereus  :  i.e.  to  have  waxen  images  of  himself  offered 
for  sale. 

267.  pingui:  stupid;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  14. 

268.  cum  scriptore  meo :  i.e.  both  the  poet  and  his  subject  are 
consigned  to  oblivion.        porrectus  :  like  a  corpse  on  the  bier. 

269.  vicuna  :  the  Vicus  Tuscus;  see  note  on  Serm.  ii.  3.  228. 

270.  amicitur  :  unsalable  poems  were  used  for  wrapping  paper; 
cf.  Catull.  95.  7,  Volusi  annales  Paduam  morientur  ad  ipsam  Et  laxas 
scombris  saepe  dabunt  tunicas. 

EPISTLE   II. 

1.  Flore :  cf.  i.  3.  1.        amice  :  as  a  member  of  the  cohors  amico- 
rum;  cf.  i.  3.  6.        Neroni  :  i.e.  Tiberius;  cf.  i.  3.  2. 

2.  puerum  .  .  .  natum  Tibure  vel  Gabiis  :  i.e.  a  verna  of  Italian 
birth,  regarded  as  more  valuable  than  the  foreign  slaves. 

3.  agat :  deal,  treat,  of  the  seller  recommending  his  goods. 

5.  fiet  eritque  :  the  double  term  is  characteristic  of  legal  forms, 
such  as  bills  of  sale  and  the  like.        nummonim  .  .  .  octo  :  8000 
sesterces  (about  $400),  an  average  price  for  a  slave  of  the  kind, 

6.  ministeriis  :  dative  with  aptus. 


374  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  138. 

7.  litterulis :  a  contemptuous  expression  natural  in  the  mouth  of 
the  slave  dealer.        imbutus :  with  a  smattering  of.     Cf.  Tac.  Dial. 
19,  elementis  studiorum  etsi  non  instructus,  at  certe  imbutus.        ido- 
neus  arti  cuilibet :  i.e.  capable  of  being  taught  any  accomplishment. 
He  cQuld  be  made  a  reader  or  an  amanuensis,  or  the  like. 

8.  argilla  .  .  .  uda :  i.e.  he  is  still  impressionable  and  capable  of 
being  moulded  to  any  form  one  might  desire. 

9.  indoctum  sed  dulce :  i.e.  in  a  sweet  but  untrained  voice. 
bibenti :  i.e.  his  singing  would  be  acceptable  at  a  comissatio  or  sym- 
posium, where  his  hearers  would  be  less  critical. 

10.  multa,  etc. :  i.e.  too  many  promises  are  suspicious,  and  give 
the  impression  that  the  seller  is  anxious  to  get  rid  of  a  worthless  article. 
levant  =  leviorem  faciunt. 

11.  extrudere  :  to  get  off  his  hands;  see  Introd.  §  55.  a. 

12.  res  .  .  .  nulla :  i.e.  I  am  under  no  necessity.        meo  .  .  . 
acre  :  i.e.  in  humble  circumstances,  but  out  of  debt.     Meum  aes  is  the 
opposite  of  aes  alienum.     Cf.  Cic.  Verr.  ii.  4.  6.  11,  hominem  .  .  .  non 
modo  in  aere  alieno  nullo,  sed  in  suis  nummis  multis  esse. 

13.  hoc  .  .  .  faceret:    i.e.  would  treat  you  so  fairly.         non 
temere :  not  without  special  reason ;  i.e.  I  would  not  do  this  for 
every  one. 

14.  semel :  emphatic  ;  just  once.        cessavit :  see  note  on  cessa- 
tor,  Serm.  ii.  7.  100. 

15.  in  scalis  :  under  the  stairs.    Cf.  Cic.  Mil.  15. 40  (cum  Clodius} 
se  .  .  .  fugiens  in  scalarum  tenebras  abdidisset.        pendentis  habe- 
nae :   i.e.  the  thong  (lorum~),  hung  up  in  a  conspicuous  place  as  a 
warning. 

16.  except  a  :  the  regular  word  for  an  exception  or  provision  in  a 
bargain ;   cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  286.        des :  the  apodosis  of  si  velit  .  .  . 
agat,  in  lines  2-3. 

17.  poenae  securus :  without  fear  of  penalty,  since  he  had  ex- 
pressly mentioned  the  slave's  fault.     On  the  case  of  poenae,  see  Introd. 
§  40.  a. 

18.  prudens :  wittingly,  with  your  eyes  open.        lex  :  the  condi- 
tions of  the  sale.  \ 

19.  moraris:  i.e.  consume  his  time. 

20.  dixi,  etc. :  the  application  of  the  example. 

21.  mancum  :  crippled,  a  stronger  word  than  pigrum.        talibus 
officiis:  i.e.  letter  writing  ;  dative  of  purpose  with  mancum.        mea  : 
with  epistula,  a  bold  hyperbaton. 


PAGE  139.]  BOOK  II.    EPISTLE  2.  375 

23.  mecum  facientia  iura  :  the  law  which  is  on  my  side;  since  he 
had  warned  his  friend,  as  the  slave  dealer  had  the  purchaser. 

24.  super  hoc  :  hoc  seems  to  be  accusative,  since  the  expression 
super  haec  is  of  frequent  occurrence. 

26.  Luculli  miles  :  Horace  illustrates  the  situation  by  an  anecdote, 
viatica:   strictly,  travelling  expenses;   cf,  i.  17.  54.     Here  it  means 
savings  from  his  pay,  from  booty,  etc. 

27.  ad  assem  :  to  a  penny;  i.e.  wholly. 

28.  vemens  lupus  •  in  apposition  with  the  subject  of  deiecit,  the 
person  being  identified,  as  frequently  in  Horace,  with  the  thing  with 
which  he  is  compared.     The  comparison  of  soldiers  with  wolves  is  a 
common  one.     Vemens  is  probably  a  contracted  form  foTvehemens. 

30.  praesidium  :  garrison.        deiecit :  the  technical  word. 

31.  rerum  :  genitive  with  divite.     See  Introd.  §  40.  a. 

32.  donis  honestis :  gifts  of  honor,  such  as  coronae  aureae,  hastae 
purae,  phalerae,  torques,  armillae. 

33.  bis  dena  sestertia:  20,000  sesterces  (about  $1000),  probably 
his  share  from  the  sale  of  the  booty.        minimum:  not  commonly 
used  after  sestertia,  to  which  it  is  frequently  equivalent.    Here  it 
means  in  cash. 

34.  praetor :  general,  the  original  meaning  of  the  word. 

35.  nescid :    the    regular    quantity  in    the    combination    nescio 
quis,  etc. 

36.  mentem:  here  meaning  courage,  like  animus.     Cf.  i.  2.  60. 
timido  quoque :  even  to  a  coward. 

37.  pede  iausto :  i.e.  and  good  luck  go  with  you,  an  assurance  of 
the  ease  of  the  undertaking,  as  well  as  a  wish.    Ablative  of  attendant 
circumstance. 

38.  laturus:   and  you  will  receive.    See  Introd.   §  47.         quid 
stas?  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  19. 

39.  ibit,  ibit :  ironically  repeating  the  i  .  .  .  i  of  line  37. 

40.  zonam :   money-belt.     Apparently  not  like  those  of  modern 
times,  but  with  a  purse  (crumena)  hanging  from  them.     Cf.,  however, 
C.  Gracch.  ap.  Gell.  xv.  12.  4,  zonas  .  .  .  plenas  argenti. 

41.  contigit:  it  has  been  my  good  fortune;  cf.  i.  2.46.        doceri 
.  .  .  Achilles :  i.e.  to  study  Greek  and  read  the  Iliad,  which  was  used 
as  a  text-book.     Cf.  Plin.  Epist.  ii.  14.  2,  in  foro  pueros  a  centum- 
viralibus  catisis  auspicari  ut  ab  Homero  in  scholis. 

43.  Athenae :  Horace,  like  many  young  men  of  his  day,  went  to 
Athens  to  complete  his  education.     See  Introd.  §  2. 


376  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  139. 

44.  lit  vellem   .   .   .   dinoscere :    of    the  study  of    philosophy. 
curvo :   used  somewhat  humorously  for  wrong,  as  deflected  from 
the  straight  path.    The  same  idea  is  found  in  pravum  and  vitium. 
See  note  on  Serm.  i.  3.  1. 

45.  silvas  Academi  :  i.e.  the  Academy,  a  grove  in  the  suburbs  of 
Athens,  where  Plato  had  his  school.     Academus,  from  whom  the  grove 
derived  its  name,  was  an  Athenian  hero,  often  identified  with  Cadmus. 

47.  aestus:  the  tide;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  7.  15-16. 

48.  non  responsura :  i.e.  fated  not  to  be  a  match  for. 

49.  unde :  i.e.  ex  arstu  belli  civilis.        simul  primum :   a  rare 
combination  ;  cf.  simul  ac  and  cum  primum. 

50.  decisis  .  .  .  pinnis :    with  clipped  wings,  to  be  taken  with 
humilem    (laid  low},   as  the  position   shows.          paterni  laris   et 
fundi:    genitive  with   inopem.     His  father's   estate  was   evidently 
confiscated. 

51.  audax :  with  the  subject  of  facerem,  that  I  should  venture  to 
make  verses. 

52.  quod  non  desit:    i.e.  quod  satis  est,   object  of  habentem. 
habentem :  sc.  me. 

53.  expurgare:  cure,  of  the  disease  of  writing.        cicutae:  re- 
garded as  a  cure  for  madness. 

55.  singula :   one  thing  after  another.        anni  .  .  .  euntes :  the 
years  as  they  pass. 

56.  ludum:  of  amusements  in  general. 

57.  extorquere :  implying  resistance  on  Horace's  part. 

58.  denique,  etc. :  finally  tastes  differ,  and  he  cannot  please  every 
one. 

59.  carmine :  lyric  poetry,  such  as  the  Odes.        iambis :  such  as 
the  Epodes;  cf.  Epod.  14.  7. 

60.  Bioneis:  Bion  the  Borysthenite  was  a  Scythian  philosopher, 
who  lived  about  250  B.C.     He  was  notorious  for  his  wit  and  cynicism. 
The  reference  is  to  the  Sermones.        sale  nigro:   caustic  wit.     Cf. 
Serm.  ii.  4.  74,  where  sal  nigrum  is  used  of  a  coarse  strong  salt. 
Doubtless,  however,  nigro  is  used  with  something  of  a  figurative 
meaning,  as  in  Serm.  i.  4.  85  and  100. 

61.  tres  convivae :  a  small  number  of  guests,  but  all  of  different 
tastes.        proper  ironical. 

62.  multum  diversa:  widely  different  things.     Cf.  i.  10.  3. 

64.  acidum :  used  especially  of  wine. 

65.  praeter  cetera :  above  all. 


PAGE  140.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  2.  377 

67.  sponsum :  supine.     Cf.  Serin,  ii.  6.  23.        auditum  scripta : 
i.e.  to  a  recitation  of  his  works. 

68.  omnibus  ofn'ciis :  i.e.  all  other  business.        cubat :  lies  sick  ; 
cf.  Serm.  i.  9.  18. 

70.  humane  commoda :  reasonably  convenient,  ironical.    Humane 
is  used  to  intensify  commodum,  like  misere.        verum :  a  suggestion 
that  the  case  is  not  so  bad  after  all. 

71.  purae:    clear,  free  from  obstruction.        meditantibus :  i.e. 
he  can  compose  as  he  goes.     Cf.  Serm.  i.  9.  2. 

72.  festinat :   emphatic ;   nay.  the   contractor  rushes  on  in  hot 
haste.        mulis  gerulisque :  instrumental  ablative. 

73.  torquet :  swings.        machina :  a  derrick  or  crane. 

74.  tristia  funera  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  42  f.        robustis :  heavy,  made 
strong  for  carrying  great  loads. 

75.  hac :  sc.  via ;  hac  .  .  .  hac  is  poetic  and  rare ;  see  Introd. 
§  48.  a ;  cf.  Virg.  Aen.  i.  467  f. 

76.  i  mine  :  go  now,  if  you  can.     Cf.  i.  6.  17. 

77.  Bcriptorum  —  poetarum ;  cf.  ii.   1.  36.        urbem:   the  city, 
used  in  a  general  sense. 

78.  rite  :  regularly,  for  all  time.         cliens  Bacchi :  cf.  i.  19.  4. 

80.  contracta  vestigia:  i.e.  the  narrow  path ;  for  contracta,  cf. 
contractus  in  i.  7.  12. 

81.  ingenium:  a  mind,  i.e.  a  man  of  intellect.     The  idea  is  that 
'not  even  in  Athens  can  one  give  himself  entirely  to  study  and  literary- 
pursuits  without  making  himself  ridiculous ;  much  less  is  it  possible  at 
Eome.        vacuas  :  quiet ;  cf.  i.  7.  45.         desumpsit:  has  chosen  as 
a  home. 

82.  insenuit:  has  grown  gray. 

83.  curis :  meditation,  study.        statua  taciturnius :  a  proverbial 
expression  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  40. 

84.  hie  :  here,  i.e.  in  Rome. 

86.  motura  :  designed  to  rouse,  i.e.  suited  for  lyric  poetry.        co- 
nectere :  to  weave.        digner :  am  I  to  think  fit  ? 

87.  ut  alter :   of  such  a  sort  that  they  praised  each  other.    For 
the  form  of  the  result  clause,  cf.  i.  16.  12. 

88.  meros  honores :  nothing  but  praise. 

89.  Gracchus :  probably  C.  Gracchus,  who  was  the  greatest  orator 
of  his  time.     As  Tiberius   Gracchus  was  also   a  celebrated   orator, 
Horace  may  use  the  name  without  special  regard  to  either.        illi  :  in 
his  eyes ;  dative  of  the  person  judging.        Mucius :  there  were  three 


378  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  140. 

celebrated  jurists  named  Mucius  Scaevola.  Here,  too,  Horace  may  use 
the  name  generally,  or  he  may  have  the  eldest  in  mind  as  contem- 
porary with  the  Gracchi. 

90.  qui  minus :  how  much  the  less. 

91.  hie :  another,  very  probably  Propertius,  who  calls  himself  the 
Roman  Callimachus  (Prop.  iv.  1.  64  ;  cf.  line  100  below).        mirabile 
.  .  .  opus :  in  apposition  with  carmina  and  elegos,  and  representing 
the  praise  bestowed  by  the  two  poets  on  each  other. 

92.  novem  Musis :  i.e.  all  the  muses  must  have  taken  part  in  its 
production. 

93.  molimine :  conscious  effort.        circum  spectemus :  tmesis  ; 
cf.  Serm.  i.  2.  62-63  ;  ii.  3.  117-118  ;  In  trod.  §  53.  o. 

94.  vacuam  .   .  .  aedem :  apparently  referring  to  the  bibliotheca 
Latina  in  the  temple  of  Apollo  on  the  Palatine. 

95.  mox  etiam :  their  books  are  received  into  the  Palatine  Library, 
and  later  they  recite  their  works  in  public.        sequere :  to  the  hall 
where  the  recitation  was  given,  perhaps  also  in  the  same  temple. 

96.  coronam :  the  prize  of  victory  ;  cf.  Odes,  i.  26.  8. 

97.  caedimur  .  .  .  ho  stem :  like  gladiators  in  combat. 

98.  Samnites :  heavy  armed  gladiators,  originally  from  Campania ; 
cf.  Liv.  ix.  40.  17.        ad  lumina  prima :  i.e.  until  evening,  when  the 
lights  were  lit.        duello :  originally  a  combat  between  two,  and  per- 
haps here  used  on  account  of  its  original  signification. 

99.  discedo :    I  come  off  from  the  contest.         Alcaeus :    an 
Alcaeus,  i.e.  the  equal  of  Alcaeus ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  13.  26.        puncto : 
vote.        meo:  sc.  puncto. 

100.  Callimachus :  the  most  brilliant  of  the  Alexandrian  school 
of  Greek  poets,  a  native  of  Cyrene.     His  elegies  were  imitated  by 
Catullus,  Ovid,  and  Propertius.        si  plus  .  .  .  visus :  i.e.  if  this  does 
not  satisfy  him.        adposcere :  an  archaic  word  found  only  here  and 
in  Ter.  Heaut.  838. 

101.  Mimnermus :  nourished  640-600  B.C.,  by  some  regarded  as  a 
greater  elegiac  poet  than  Callimachus.        optivo  =  adoptivo,  since  the 
name  was  not  his  by  birth,  but  by  adoption. 

102.  multa  fero :  /  endure  a  great  deal. 

103.  suffragia  capto :  cf.  i.  19.  37. 

104.  mente  recepta:  since  writing  poetry  is  looked  on  as  a 
species  of  madness ;  cf.  line  90  above. 

105.  obturem:  apodosis  to  the  protasis  implied  in  finitis  .  .  . 
recepta.        impune :  with  obturem. 


PAGE  141.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  2.  379 

106.  verum  :  yet. 

107.  scribentes  :   i.e.  in  the  act  of  writing.        ultro:  of  their 
own  accord,  explained  by  si  taceas. 

108.  beati  :  with  laudant,  i.e.  happy  in  their  self-conceit. 

109.  legitimum :   i.e.  corresponding  to  the  rules  of  art;  cf.  Ars 
Poet.  274. 

110.  cum  tabulis :  i.e.  when  he  takes  his  tablets  in  hand  to  write, 
honesti :  conscientious. 

111.  audebit :  he  will  have  the  courage. 

113.  movere  loco :  expel,  as  the  censor  removes  unworthy  mem- 
bers from  the  senate. 

114.  intra  penetralia  Vestae :  within  the  shrine  of  Vesta. 

115.  populo :  with  eruet.        bonus  :  kindly. 

117.  Catonibus  atque  Cethegis  :  i.e.  men  like  Cato  (the  censor) 
and  Cethegus  (consul  in  204  B.C.),  types  of  the  olden  time. 

118.  situs  :  neglect,  rust.          informis :   of  the  effect  produced, 
disfiguring,  ugly.        deserta  :  abandoned. 

119.  adsciscet  nova  :  sc.  verba,  as  the  censor  enrolls  new  mem- 
bers in  the  senate,        genitor  :  as  father.        USUB:  usage. 

120.  vehemens :  powerful. 

121.  beabit :  bless,  enrich.     Cf.  Ars  Poet.  57 ;  and  on  the  word, 
i.  18.  75. 

122.  luxuriantia  :   sc.  verba,  excessive,  likened  to  a  vine  which 
grows  too  rank.          aspera  :   rough.         sano  :  well-regulated.     He 
will  not  polish  his  work  so  much  as  to  take  away  its  strength. 

123.  virtute   carentia:    i.e.  ignava  ;   cf.    ii.    1.   67.         toilet  : 
elevate,  i.e.  improve  their  tone. 

124.  ludentis:   of  one  at  play,  i.e.  without  effort.          torque- 
bitur  :   will  use  all  his  efforts;  exert  himself  to  the  utmost;  torque- 
bitur  has  a  middle  force. 

125.  Satynun  .  .  .  Cyclopa  :  accusative  of  the  inner  object ;  cf. 
Serm.  i.  5. 63.       movetur :  dances,  passive  with  the  force  of  the  middle. 

126.  praetulerim :  /  should  prefer,  rather  than  to  take  all  this 
trouble.     Potential  subjunctive.       delirus :  see  note  on  Serm.  ii.  3.  107. 

127.  denique  :  at  least. 

128.  ringi  :  to  be  vexed,  lit.  to  show  one's  teeth  like  an  angry  dog. 
Cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  341,  Ditm  tibi  fit  quod  placeat,  ille  ringitur,  on  which 
Donatus's  comment  is  :  ringi  est  stomachari  taciturn  :  est  enim  trans- 
latio  a  canibus  latraturis.          baud  ignobilis  :  sc.  quidam,  a  well- 
known  man,  i.e.  the  story  is  a  familiar  one.          Argis :  at  Argos,  the 


380  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  141. 

Latin  form  of  the  word ;  cf.  Varro,  Ling.  Lat.  ix.  50,  Graecanice  hoc 
Argos,  Latine  Argi. 

130.  sessor  plausorque  :  i.e.  regularly  sitting  and  applauding. 

131.  servaret :  characteristic  subjunctive  ;  in  other  respects  a  man 
who.     Cf.  credebat  in  line  129.     Vitae  munia  is  explained  in  the  fol- 
lowing lines. 

133.  ignoscere  servis  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  80  f . 

134.  signo  laeso  :  i.e.  has  stolen  a  jar  of  wine.     The  jars  were 
closed  and  sealed. 

135.  rupem  .  .  .  vitare :  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  56  f.        puteum  .  .  . 
patentem  :  an  open  well,  i.e.  with  the  cover  off. 

136.  opibus  :  very  nearly  =  ope. 

137.  elleboro  :  regarded  as  a  remedy  for  madness ;  cf.  Serm.  ii. 
3.  82.         bilem :  supposed  to  cause  insanity  ;  cf.  Plaut.  Amph.  720, 
atra  bili  percita  est. 

138.  Pol :  cf.  i.  7.  93,  and  the  note. 

141.  nimirum  sapere,  etc. :  finally,  the  proper  occupation  for  a 
man   of  Horace's  time  of  life  is  the  study  of  philosophy ;  cf.  i.  1. 
nugis :  cf.  ludicra,  i.  1.  10,  and  Serm.  i.  9.  2. 

142.  pueris  :  governed  both  by  tempestivum  and  by  concedere,  airb 
KOIVOI  ;  see  Introd.  §  42. 

143.  sequi:  follow  after,  i.e.  try  to  find. 

144.  numerosque  modosque :  cf.  i.  18.  59. 

145.  recorder :  i.e.  he  recalls  to  his  mind  the  precepts  which  he 
has  learned  from  his  teachers. 

146.  sitim  :  i.e.  if  you  had  dropsy  ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  2.  13. 

147.  quant o  .   .  .    cupis  :    avarice,  a  vice  which  Horace  is  con- 
stantly satirizing,  is  likened  to  a  dropsy  of  the  mind. 

148.  nulline  .  .  .  andes  :  i.e.  would  you  be  ashamed  to  confess 
your  trouble  and  have  it  treated  ?     Cf.  i.  1C.  24. 

149.  monstrata :  i.  e.  prescribed. 

150.  fugeres  .  .  .  curarier  :  you  would  refuse  to  be  treated;  with 
the  construction,  cf.  Odes,  i.  9.  13.    On  the  form  curarier,  see  Introd. 
§  35.  a. 

151.  audieras  :  from  the  people  who  believed  it ;  cf.  i.  1.  53  f. 

152.  donarent :  a  general  statement,  put  into  a  past  tense  after 
audieras.        decedere  :  the  technical  expression  for  being  cured  of  a 
disease  ;  cf.  Lucr.  ii.  34,  Nee  calidae  citius  decedunt  corpore  febres. 

153.  ex  quo  :  '  from  the  time  when ' ;  i.e.  since  you  became  richer. 

154.  plenior:  richer;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  12.  24. 


PAGE  143.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  2.  381 

156.   nempe  :  surely. 

158.  libra  .   .  .  et  aere  :  the  usual  way  of  conveying  property  at 
Rome  was  by  a  symbolic  sale,  in  which  a  balance,  held  by  a  third  party, 
was  struck  by  the  recipient  with  a  copper  coin. 

159.  consultis  :  for  iuris  consultis  ;  cf.  line  87  above.         manci- 
pat :  makes  your  property  ;  strictly  this  term  can  be  used  only  of  the 
process  described  in  the  note  to  line  158,  but  it  is  here  used  figura- 
tively,         usus :  possession,  which  if  long  enough  continued  gave  a 
legal  title. 

160.  qui  te  pascit  ager  :  i.e.  the  field  which  grows  the  grain  on 
which  you  live  is  yours,  whether  you  own  it  or  another.         Orbi : 
otherwise  unknown ;  doubtless  a  rich  neighbor  of  the  poet. 

161.  daturas:  which  are  to  give  you;  see  Introd.  §  47. 

163.  temeti  :  an  old  word  for  wine.  modo  isto  :  since  the 
elision  of  the  last  syllable  of  an  iambic  word  before  an  accented  syl- 
lable is  very  rare,  probably  isto  is  to  be  pronounced  sto,  according  to 
the  popular  usage.     The  form  is  read  in  Cicero's  Letters  and  may  have 
been  the  original  reading  here. 

164.  trecentis  .  .  .  milibus:  300,000  sesterces  (about  $15,000). 

166.  nuper  an  olim  :  i.e.  some  time  ago  (by  buying  the  estate)  or 
from  time  to  time,  as  you  buy  provisions. 

167.  emptor    quondam  :    for  qui    quondam    emit.          Aricini 
Veientis  et  arvi  :  of  an  estate  at  Aricia  or   Veil. 

168.  emptum :   emphatic,  boughten.     So   emptis.     Cf.  Epod.  ii. 
48,  dapes  inemptas. 

169.  sub  noctem  :  at  nightfall. 

170.  usque  .  .   .  qua  .  .  .  iurgia :  as  far  as  where  the  line  of 
poplars  avoids  quarrels  with  the  neighbors  by  the  fixed  boundary  which 
it  makes  ;  i.e.  the  owner  plants  a  line  of  poplars  and  by  thus  fixing  his 
boundary  line  avoids  the  possibility  of  dispute.     This  estate  he  calls 
his,  though,  as  has  been  shown,  it  is  only  so  in  a  certain  sense.     The 
poplars  are  said  to  avoid  quarrels  since  they  free  the  owner  from  them. 
Limitibus  is  ablative  of  instrument. 

172.  puncto  .  .  .  mobilis  horae :  in  a  short  time;  see  note  on 
horae  momento,  Serm.  i.  1.  7. 

173.  prece  :  that  is  as  a  gift.        pretio  :  by  sale.        vi  :  for  ex- 
ample, by  confiscation.         morte  suprema  :    by  death,  which  ends 
all. 

176.   alterius  :  sc.  heredis ;  a  succession  of  heirs.        velut  .  .  . 
undam :  as  wave  follows  wave.     Cf.  Ovid,  Met.  xv.  181,  ut  unda  im~ 


382  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  2.  [PAGE  143. 

pellitur  unda.     Urgeturque  eadem  veniente  urgetque  priorem  Tempora 
sic  fugiunt  pariter. 

177.  vici :  great  estates.         Calabris  :  .  .  Lucani  :  referring  to 
possessions  in  cattle.     The  herds  were  pastured  in  Apulia  and  Cala- 
bria in  winter,  and  driven  to  the  hills  of  Lucania  and  Samnium  in  the 
summer.     Cf.  Epod.  1.  27. 

178.  Orcus  :  the  comparison  of  death  with  a  reaper  is  a  familiar 
one. 

179.  non  exorabilis  auro  :  cf.  Odes,  ii.  18.  34  ff. 

180.  sigilla :  small  statuettes  of  bronze.     Cf.  Plin.  N".  H.  xxxiv. 
34,  signa  quoque  Tuscanica  per  terras  dispersa  quin  in  Etruria  facti- 
tata  sint  non  est  dubium. 

181.  argentum  :  plate;  cf.  i.  6.  17.        Gaetulo  :   the  Gaetuliau 
purple  was  famous. 

182.  est  qui  non  curat :  there  is  one  who  does  not  care,  namely, 
the  poet  himself.    Note  the  indicative,  contrasted  with  the  subjunctive 
after  an  indefinite  antecedent.     See  Introd.  §  45.  c. 

183.  alter  fratnim  :  such  differences  of  temperament  in  brothers 
was  a  favorite  subject  in  comedy  ;    so  in  the  Adelphi  of  Terence. 
cessare  :  cf.  i.  7.  57.         ungui :  to  be  anointed  with  oil,  for  a  banquet 
or  revel ;  cf.  Odes,  ii.  11.  17. 

184.  Herodis :  Herod  the  Great,  king  of  Judaea,  39-4  B.C.         pal- 
metis  :  used  here  as  a  synonym  for  great  riches,  since  the  yield  in 
dates  from  such  a  grove  would  be  great. 

185.  importunus  :  insatiate  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  96.        ad  umbram 
lucis  :  i.e.  until  nightfall. 

186.  mitiget :    subdues ;  cf.  pacantur,  i.  2.  45 ;  the  wild  land  is 
subdued  like  an  enemy  with  fire  and  steel. 

187.  Genius:  cf.  ii.  1.  144.        natale  astrum :    his  natal  star; 
cf.  Odes,  ii.  17.  21.     For  Horace's  views  on  astrology,  cf.  Odes,  i.  11  ; 
Serm.  i.  6.  114.        temperat :  controls. 

188.  deus  .  .  .  mortalis  :  i.e.  a  god  as  regards  its  nature  and  its 
power,  but  mortal  as  regards  the  individual ;  see  note  on  i.  7.  94. 

189.  voltu  mutabilis  :  i.e.  representing  men  of  different  charac- 
ter,       albus  et  ater  :  applying  to  fortune  (cf.  Odes,  i.  12.  27)  and  to 
character;  cf.  Cic.  Phil.  ii.  16.  41,  qui  albus  aterne  fuerit  ignoras; 
Catull.  93.  2,  Nee  scire  utrum  sis  albus  an  ater  homo. 

190.  utar  :  used  absolutely,  as  in  i.  7.  57.        ex  modico  acervo  : 
the  opposite  of  Serm.  i.  1.  51.        res  :  circumstances. 

192.   datis  :  i.e.  than  what  was  actually  left  him. 


PAGE  147.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  383 

193.  scire  volam  :  I  shall  wish  to  know  the  difference  between 
good  living  and  extravagance,  and  between  frugality  and  parsimony, 
and  regulate  my  life  accordingly.  simplex :  frank,  open. 

197.  ac  potius:    or  rather.        Quinquatribus :  the   festival  of 
Minerva,  from  March  19  to  March  23.     It  was  observed  as  a  school 
holiday,  since  Minerva  was  the  goddess  of  wisdom  and  learning. 

198.  raptim :  i.e.  crowding  as  much  enjoyment  as  possible  into 
the  short  time. 

199.  utrum  ...  an:  as  if  nihil  distat  preceded. 

201.  tumidis  veils :  i.e.  my  sails  are  not  swollen  by  too  favorable 
a  wind  (cf.  Odes,  ii.  10.  23),  nor  yet  are  they  wholly  unfavorable. 

202.  aetatem  ducimus  :  cf.  Epod.  17.  63. 

203.  specie:  appearances. 

204.  usque:  always. 

205.  non  es :  with  concessive  force.        abi :  good,  go  in  peace;  a 
colloquial  expression ;  verbum  vel  sibi  vel  alien  blandientis,  Donatus 
on  Ter.  Ad.  765.      cetera:  sc.  vitia  from  vitio.      inani:  cf.  ii.  1.  211. 

207.  ira:  to  be  taken  like  formidine  with  mortis;  cf.  Lucr.  iii. 
1045,  Tu  vero  dubitabis  et  indignabere  obire? 

208.  somnia :  i.e.  a  superstitious  belief  in  dreams. 

209.  nocturnes  lemures:  umbras  vagantes  hominum  ante  diem 
mortuorum  et  ideo  metuendas,  Porph.  ad  loc.        Thessala :  the  Thes- 
salian  witches  and  witchcraft  were  famous ;  cf.  Epod.  5.  45 ;  Odes,  i. 
27.  21. 

210.  natalis  .  .  .  numeras:   i.e.  do  you  enjoy  each  year  as  it 
passes  ?        ignoscis  amicis :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  25  f. ;  i.  3.  84  f . 

212.  exempta  .  .  .  una :  sc.  spina.        spinis :  cf.  i.  14. 4. 

213.  decede  peritis :   make  way  for  those  who  do.    Peritis  is 
dative ;   cf.  Odes,  ii.  6.  15. 

215.  abire:   as  from  a  banquet;  cf.  Serm.  i.  1.  119.        largius 
aequo :  more  plentifully  than  is  proper. 

216.  pulset:   drive  you  forth.        lasciva  decentius :   in  which 
merry-making  is  more  seemly. 

EPISTLE   III. 

1.  humano  capiti,  etc. :  Horace  forcibly  illustrates  the  necessity 
of  unity  by  describing  an  absurd  composition  in  the  pictorial  art. 
humano  .  .  .  equinam:  the  contrast  is  heightened  by  the  chiastic 
order. 


384  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  147. 

2.  velit :  should  take  it  into  his  head.        inducere :  the   regular 
word  for  '  laying  on  '  color. 

3.  membris :   probably  dative  with  inducere.         undique :   i.e. 
from  all  sorts  of  animals.        turpiter  atrum :  to  be  taken  together 
(ugly  black} ,  contrasted  with  formosa  superne. 

5.  spectatum :  supine.        amici :  even  though  you  were  friends 
of  the  painter. 

6.  Pisones :  according  to  Porphyrio,  the  Epistle  is  addressed  to 
L.   Calpurnius  Piso,   consul  in  15  B.C.,  and  praefectus  urbis  under 
Tiberius.     His  two  sons  are  included  in  the  term  Pisones.        librum : 
a  poem  of  any  kind.     Cf.  ii.  1.  220. 

7.  vanae  .  .  .  species :   fancies.      There  is  no  criticism  in  the 
term  itself,  except  in  so  far  as  it  is  qualified  by  the  following  wi-clause. 

9.  reddatur :  is  suited  to,  corresponds  to.        pictoribus,  etc. :  a 
reply  to  Horace's  words. 

10.  aequa :  equal,  like,  i.e.  both  for  painters  and  poets. 

11.  petimus  damusque :    we  ask  it  as  poets  and  grant  it  to 
painters. 

12.  sed  .  .  .  non  ut:  but  not  on  the  understanding  that;  i.e. 
there  are  limits.        coeant :  cf.  i.  5.  25.     Stipulative  subjunctive  ; 
see  Introd.  §  45.  e. 

13.  geminentur :  i.e.  united  in  one  form. 

14.  inceptis :  beginnings.      plerumque  =  saepe  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5. 55. 

15.  purpureus  .  .  .  pannus:   the  reference  does  not  seem  to  be 
to  the  purple  stripe  on  the  tunic  or  toga,  but  rather  to  a  patchwork 
effect.         splendeat:  subjunctive  of  purpose. 

16.  lucus  et  ara,  etc. :  these  incongruous  details  are  doubtless  real 
examples  taken  from  poets  of  the  day,  but  they  cannot  be  identified. 

17.  ambitus :  the  winding  course. 

18.  Rhenum :  the  adjective,  instead  of  the  substantive  Ehenus ; 
cf.  Odes,  i.  10.  15. 

19.  sed :  with  an  implied  ellipsis  ;  very  good,  but.        cupressum 
.  .  .  simulare :  apparently  proverbial ;  cf.  Porph.  ad  loc.,  hoc  prover- 
bium  est  in  malum  pictorem  qui  nesciebat  aliud  bene  pingere  quam 
cupressum.    Ab  hoc  naufragus  quidam  petiit  ut  pericuhim  suum  ex- 
primeret.    Ille  interrogavit,  num  ex  cupresso  vellet  aliquid  adicere. 
Quod  proverbium  Graecis  in  usu  est. 

20.  si  enatat :  i.e.  if  you  are  painting  an  ex  voto  (see  note  on 
Serm.  i.  5.  66.)  for  a  man  who  has  been  shipwrecked.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  5. 
13 ;  Serm.  ii.  1.  33. 


PAGE  148.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  385 

21.  acre  dato  :  i.e.  he  has  paid  his  money,  and  has  a  right  to 
expect  a  good  piece  of  work. 

22.  rota  :  the  potter's  wheel.        urceus  :  a  pitcher.    The  potter 
plans  an  amphora  and  produces  a  small  jug.     Cf.  line  139  below. 

23.  denique :  in  short,  summing  up  the  bearing  of  the  preceding 
examples.        dumtaxat :  provided  it  be.     See  note  on  Serm.  ii.  6.  42. 

24.  vatum  :  of  us  poets,  on  account  of  decipimur. 

25.  specie:  idea,  notion;  i.e.  our  own  idea,  which  is  often  wrong. 

26.  levia  :  smoothness,  polish.        nervi  :  strength. 

27.  grandia :    a  lofty  style;  cf.  Quint,  x.  2.  16,  plerumque  (imita- 
tores)  declinant  in  peius  et  proxima  virtutibus  vilia  comprehendunt 
fiuntque  pro  grandibus  tumidi. 

28.  procellae :  perhaps  used  in  the  same  sense  as  in  Odes,  ii.  10. 
1  f.,  in  which  case  there  is  a  mixture  of  metaphors,  or,  as  in  iv.  2.  25, 
of  the  dangers  which  attend  a  high  flight. 

29.  rem  .  .  .  unam :  a  simple  subject.        prodigialiter:  i.e.  by 
introducing  marvels.     The  word  seems  to  be  coined  by  Horace. 

31.  caret :  the  subject  is  the  same  as  that  of  appingit. 

32.  Aemilium  .  .  .  ludum :   Porph.  says :  Aemilii  Lepidi  Indus 
gladiatorius  fuit,  quid  mine  Polycleti  balineum  est.        imus  :  i.e.  the 
most  obscure. 

33.  exprimet:  cf.  ii.  1.  248.        mollis:  i.e.  with  lifelike  effect. 

34.  infelix  operis  summa  :  unsuccessful  in  his  work  as  a  whole. 
ponere :   to  represent ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  8.  8. 

35.  hunc:  i.e.  a  man  like  that;  cf.  i.  6.  40,  ne  fueris  hie  tu; 
Introd.  §  48.  a. 

36.  pravo  :  crooked. 

37.  spectandum :    worth   looking  at,  an  object  of  admiration. 
nigris  .  .  .  capillo :    regarded  as  a  mark  of  beauty ;    cf.   Odes,  i. 
32.  11. 

38.  materiam :  a  subject.        qui  scribitis :  all  ye  who  write;  not 
addressed  to  the  Pisones. 

39.  versate  :  consider;  perhaps  with  the  idea  of  trying  the  weight 
before  raising  it  to  the  shoulders. 

40.  potenter  :  according  to  his  powers ;  Kara  rb  Swarbv,  Porph. 

41.  facundia:  the  power  of  expression.        lucidus  ordo  :   clear 
arrangement. 

42.  ordinis  :  stands  first  in  the  sentence,  as  the  subject  of  the  dis- 
cussion ;  so  far  as  arrangement  is    concerned.        Venus :    charm. 
aut  ego  fallor  :  unless  I  am  mistaken. 


386  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE   3.  [PAGE  148. 

43.  ut  iam  mine  .  .  .  dici :  i.e.  to  say  each  thing  in  its  proper 
place.        iam  mine :  just  now. 

44.  pleraque  :  many  things. 

45.  promissi  :  i.e.  one  which  has  been  long  promised. 

46.  in  verbis  .  .  .  serendis :  in  the  choice  of  words. 

47.  callida  .  .  .  novum  :    i.e.  to  use  common  words  in  such  con- 
nections as  to  give  an  impression  of  novelty. 

48.  si  forte  necesse  est :  new  words  may  be  coined  in  modera- 
tion and  with  circumspection,  to  express  new  ideas  which  cannot  be 
expressed  in  words  yet  in  use.     So  especially  Lucretius,  and  Cicero  in 
his  philosophical  works. 

49.  indiciis  :  signs.        abdita  rerum  :  abstruse  thoughts;  rerum 
is  genitive  of  the  whole  ;  see  Introd.  §  40.  c. 

50.  cinctutis  :  kilted,  an  example  of  a  new  word.     The  cinctus  or 
campestre  was  a  loin-cloth  which  in  early  times  was  worn  under  the 
toga  instead  of  the  tunic.     See  i.  11.  18.        Cethegis  :  typical  of  the 
olden  time  ;  cf.  ii.  2.  117. 

51.  continget:  sc.  tibi;  you  will  be  allowed.        sumpta  puden- 
ter :  if  used  with  moderation. 

52.  fidem  :  acceptance,  credit. 

53.  Graeco  .  .  .  detorta  :  not  borrowed  words  (cf.  jSerm.i.  10.20), 
but  words  formed  after  the  analogy  of  the  Greek.        quid  autem  : 
i.e.  why  should  the  privilege  of  coining  new  words  be  allowed  the 
early  poets  and  denied  to  their  successors  ? 

55.  Vergilio :  Virgil  was  criticised  for  his  use  of  Greek  words. 
adquirere  pauca  :   contrasted  with  ditaverit,  line  57. 

56.  invideor :  for  mihi  invidetur  ;  perhaps  colloquial,  or  after  the 
analogy  of  the  Greek  <t>6ovovfj.ai.     Cf.  imperor,  i.  5.  21. 

59.  signatum  :    stamped,  like  a  coin.        praesente  nota :    the 
current  device,  or  mint-mark. 

60.  foliis :  ablative  of  specification.     Cf.  mutati  voluntate,  Cic.  ad 
Fam.  v.  21.  1."        pronos  in  annos:  in  annos  is  from  year  to  year ; 
cf.  in  horas,  line  160  below  ;  Serm.  ii.  7.  10  ;  Odes,  ii.  13.  14.    Pronos 
gives  the  idea  of  rapid  change ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  6.  39.    With  the  simile, 
cf.  Iliad,  vi.  146  f . 

61.  prima  cadunt :  a  clause  coordinate  with  mutantur ;  there  is 
an  ellipsis  in  thought  of  something  like  nova  succrescunt. 

63.  debemur :  i.e.  in  consequence  of  a  natural  law.  nostraque : 
and  our  works.  receptus  .  .  .  aratrum :  the  reference  probably  is 
to  the  works  planned  by  Julius  Caesar  and  interrupted  by  his  death. 


PAGE  149.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  387 

They  are  described  as  they  would  be  if  actually  completed.  These 
undertakings  became  proverbial  for  difficult  tasks ;  cf.  Quint,  iii.  8. 
16,  an  siccari  palus  Pomptina,  an  portus  fieri  Ostiae  possit. 

64.  arcet:  protects;  cf.  Cic.  in  Cat.  i.  13.  33,  tu,  Juppiter,  hunc  a 
tuis  arts  ceterisque  templis  arcebis,  which  (sometimes  with  the  simple 
ablative  in  place  of  the  abl.  with  a&)  is  the  usual  prose  construction. 

65.  regis  opus:  i.e.  a  work  like  those  of  the  Babylonian  and 
Egyptian  kings,  or  like  those  attributed  to  the  early  Roman  kings, 
sterilis :  unproductive,  barren.        palus  diu :  the  reference  is  to  the 
Pomptine  Marshes.    The  final  syllable  of  diu  is  shortened  before  the 
following  vowel  ;  cf.  si  me  amas,  /Serm.  i.  9.  38  ;  Introd.  §  57.  a. 

67.  iniquum  frugibus :  on  account  of  the  floods  ;  see  Odes,  i.  2. 

68.  facta:    deeds,   more   general  than   opera,  which  it  includes. 
peribunt :    are  doomed  to  perish  ;  with  the  same  general  force  as  the 
future  participle. 

69.  nedum :  much  less.    From  nedum  existimes  honorem  stare, 
with  ellipsis  of  the  subjunctive  and  attraction  of  the  infinitive  into  its 
mood  and  tense.         sermonum :    words,  in  distinction  from  facta. 
stet  .  .  .  vivax :  endure  and  live. 

70.  znulta  renascentur  :  archaic  words  are  common  in  the  poets, 
and  were  used  to  excess  by  the  archaistic  school  of  writers,  in  the 
time  of  Hadrian  and  the  Antonines  (117-180  A.D.). 

71.  usus:  cf.  ii.  2.  119. 

72.  arbitrium  .  .  .  ius  .  .  .  norma:    arbitrium  quod  statuimus 
nulla  causa  allata,  ius  facultas  quam  ceteri  ultro  agnoscunt ;  norma 
regula  a  nobis  praescripta  cui  ceteri  obtemperant  (Orelli). 

73.  res  gestae  .  .  .  bella :  the  themes  of  epic  poetry. 

74.  quo  .  .  .  numero :  the  hexameter,  which  doubtless  existed 
before  Homer. 

75.  versibus  impariter  iunctis :  the  elegiac  distich,  consisting  of 
alternate  lines  of  dactylic  hexameter  and  pentameter.     Impariter  is 
one  of  Horace's  new  words.        querimonia:  i.e.  dirges,  apparently 
the  earliest  use  to  which  the  metre  was  put,  though  its  sphere  was 
afterwards  greatly  extended. 

76.  voti  sententia  compos  :  i.e.  the  songs  of  successful  lovers. 

77.  tamen:  though  the  use  of  the  metre  is  certain,  its  inventor  is 
a  matter  of  dispute.    It  is  attributed  to  Archilochus,  Mimnermus,  and 
Callinus  by  different  authorities.        exiguos :  slight,  as  compared 
with  the  heroic  hexameter. 

79.  proprio  :  his  own.     The  iambic  poetry  was  the  special  vehicle 


388  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  149. 

of  invective,  and  Archilochus  is  believed  to  have  "been  the  inventor  of 
this  type.        rabies:  cf.  i.  19.  30 f. 

80.  socci:    comedy;  see  note  on  ii.  1.  174.        cepere:  adopted; 
i.e.  later.         coturni :  tragedy  ;  really  the  buskin,  or  high  boot,  worn 
by  the  tragic  actor,  to  add  to  his  height  and  dignity.     Cf.  Odes,  ii.  1. 
12.     On  the  orthography  of  the  word,  see  Serm.  i.  5.  64. 

81.  alternis  .  .  .  sermonibus :  dialogue.       popularis  strepitus : 
the  natural  hum  of  a  large  audience. 

82.  natum  rebus  agendis :  i.e.  like  the  hexameter  (cf.  line  73), 
suited  for  describing  action. 

83.  fidibus  :  to  the  lyre,  i.e.  to  lyric  poetry.        pueros  deorum  : 
kings  and  heroes  ;  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.    The  reference  is  to  hymns. 

84.  pugilem   .    .    .   primum :    odes  celebrating  victories  in  the 
games,  such  as  Pindar's.     For  equum,  cf.  Odes,  iv.  2.  17  f. 

85.  iuvenum  curas  :  i.e.  love  songs.        libera  :  which  frees  from 
care. 

86.  descriptas  .  .  .  vices :  the  lines  which  have  been  drawn,  as 
just  described.        colores  :  style,  tone;  cf.  Serin,  ii.  1.  60. 

88.  pudens  prave  :  to  be  taken  together,  from  false  shame ;  cf. 
pudor  mains,  i.  16.  24. 

89.  versibus  .  .  .  tragicis :  i.e.  in  the  style  and  metre  of  tragedy. 

90.  indignatur  :  a  stronger  nonvult.        privatis :  i.e.  suited  to 
everyday  life. 

91.  cena  Thyestae  :  a  typical  instance  of  a  tragic  subject. 

92.  singula  quaeque  :  each  subject,  a  summing-up  of  the  preced- 
ing lines.        sortita  :  i.e.  which  has  been  alloted  to  it. 

93.  et :  even.        vocem  .  .  .  tollit :  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  48  ff. 

94.  delitigat :  probably  with  reference  to  Heaut.  1035  f.    Chremes 
is  a  common  name  in  comedy.     In  delitigat,  de-  has  an  intensive  force, 
as  in  deproelian,  desaevire  ;  the  word  is  a  coinage  of  Horace's. 

95.  plerumque  :  often ;  cf.  line  14  above.         sermone  pedestri  : 
cf.  Odes,  ii.  12.  9  ;  Serm.  ii.  6.  17  ;  Quint,  x.  1.  81,  multum  enim  supra 
prosam  orationem,  quam  pedestrem  Graeci  vocant  (Plato)  surgit. 

96.  Telephus  :  the  hero  of  tragedies  by  Aeschylus,    Sophocles, 
Euripides,  Agathon,    Ennius,    and  Accius.         Peleus:   the  hero  of 
tragedies  of  Sophocles  and  Euripides. 

97.  proicit :  throws  aside ;  for  abicit,  as  in  Serm.  ii.  3.  100  ;  ii.  7. 
53.         ampullas  :  cf.  i.  3.  14,  and  the  note.        sesquipedalia  verba  : 
of  the  grandiloquent  style  of  tragedy,  perhaps  with  special  reference  to 
the  polysyllabic  compounds  of  the  early  Roman  tragic  poets. 


PAGE  150.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  389 

98.  curat :  sc.  tragicus. 

99.  pulchra :  beautiful,  in  an   artistic  sense.          dulcia  sunto  : 
they  must  have  feeling;  dulcia  is  used  of  the  language  of  simple 
pathos,  as  distinguished  from  the  sesquipedalia  verba. 

104.  male  :  with  mandata,  words  poorly  assigned,  i.e.  not  suited 
to  your  position,  since  Horace  is  speaking  rather  of  the  language  of  the 
tragedy  than  the  delivery  of  the  actor ;  cf.  fortunis  absona,  line  112 
below. 

106.  voltum  :  character,  part,  as  indicated  by  the  mask. 

108.  format :  adapts,  i.e.   we  are  capable  of  sympathizing  with 
every  phase  of  fortune. 

109.  iuvat :  makes  us  glad. 

111.  motus :  emotions.       interprete  lingua :  through  the  medium 
of  the  tongue. 

112.  fortunis  absona:  i.e.  male  mandata;  cf.  line  104. 

113.  equites  peditesque  :  i.e.  the  whole  audience,  high  and  low 
alike  ;  pedites  seems  to  be  used  humorously,  for  the  sake  of  contrast 
with  equites.        cachinnum  :  used  of  derisive  laughter,  or  jeers. 

114.  divusne  ...  an  heros :  a  finer  distinction  than  that  above, 
based  on  a  difference  in  character,  not  in  station. 

115.  maturusne  senex :  cf.  Odes,  iv.  4.  55.    The  distinction  is 
here  between  differences  of  temperament,  due  to  differences  in  age. 

116.  potens :  imperious. 

119.  famam  :  tradition,  which  prescribed  conventional  types. 

120.  honoratum :    apparently  restored  to  honor,  in  distinction 
from  his  situation  at  the  beginning  of  the  Iliad.        reponis  :  lit.  rep- 
resent again,  since  he  had  once  been  described  by  Homer. 

122.  nihil  non :  everything  ;  litotes.       armis  :  dative,  contrasted 
with  iura. 

123.  Medea :  the  daughter  of  Aeetes,  king  of  Colchis,  celebrated 
for  her  skill  in  the  magic  arts.     She  fled  with  Jason  to  Greece,  and 
when  deserted  by  him,  murdered  their  two  children  and  her  rival. 
Her  story  is  the  subject  of  one  of  the  tragedies  of  Euripides.    In  the 
case  of  Medea  and  the  other  characters  of  the  tragedy  here  mentioned, 
Horace  names  their  most  striking  characteristics.        invicta  :  unyield- 
ing.       Ino :  the  daughter  of  Cadmus  and  wife  of  Athamas.     In  en- 
deavoring to  escape  from  her  husband,  who  had  gone  mad,  she  threw 
herself  from  a  cliff,  near  Corinth,  into  the  sea.    The  mother  and  child 
were  rescued  by  a  dolphin. 

124.  Ixion  :  notorious  for  his  treachery,  first  to  his  father-in-law 


390  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  150. 

Deioneus,  whose  death  he  caused,  and  then  to  Zeus,  who  had  taken 
pity  on  him  and  purified  him  from  his  guilt.  lo :  the  daughter  of 
Inachus.  She  incurred  the  jealousy  of  Juno,  who  changed  her  into  a 
heifer.  Juno  then  sent  a  gad-fly  which  pursued  her  over  land  and 
sea.  Orestes :  see  Serm.  ii.  3.  133  ;  ii.  3.  137. 

125.  inexpertum  :  i.e.  a  new  character. 

126.  servetur  .  .  .  constet :  i.e.  let  it  be  sibi  convenientem ;  cf. 
line  119. 

128.  proprie   communia  dicere:   i.e.  to  give  individuality    to 
common  types  of  character. 

129.  deducts :  the  present  indicative  contrasted  with  the  imper- 
fect subjunctive  prof  err  es,  seems  to  imply  that  Piso  was  writing  a 
tragedy  based  on  the  story  of  the  Iliad.    The  thought  is  that  it   is 
better  to  take  the  familiar  characters  of  myth  and  song,  and  show 
one's  originality  in  handling  them,  than  to  attempt  to  create  new 
types  of  character ;  i.e.  to  make  new  characters  who  shall  be  ferox  in- 
victaque,  flebilis,  etc.  ;  see  lines  123-124. 

131.  publica  materies:  i.e.  the  common  stock  of  legends  and 
myths.        privati  iuris  :  i.e.  you  can  make  it  your  own  by  handling 
it  in  an  original  manner. 

132.  vilem  .  .  .  orbem :  i.e.  the  beaten  track. 

133.  verbum  verbo  .  .  .  reddere :    i.e.  simply  translate  your 
original,  as  the  early  Roman  poets  did. 

134.  desilies  ...  in  artum :  i.e.  rashly  get  into  a  tight  place ; 
desilies  implies  recklessness. 

135.  pudor :  i.e.  respect  for  your  original.        operis  lex :  the 
law  of  composition. 

136.  scriptor  cyclicus :  one  of  the  so-called  cyclic  writers,  who 
wrote  on  subjects  connected  with  the  Trojan  War  and  the  expedition 
of  the  Seven  against  Thebes. 

137.  fortunam  .  .  .  bellum  :  contrasted  with  the  simple  and  un- 
ostentatious beginning  of  the  Iliad. 

138.  hiatu :  lit.  the  opening  of  the  mouth,  i.  e.  of  such  a  high-sound- 
ing introduction. 

139.  parturient  .  .  .  mus :  a  Greek  proverb. 
141-142.   A  paraphrase  of  Odyss.  i.  1-3. 

143.  fumum  .  .  .  lucem  :  the  contrast  between  a  fire  which  blazes 
up  quickly  and  then  smokes,  and  one  which  begins  with  smoke  and 
afterwards  burns  brightly. 

144.  speciosa  .  .  .  miracula  :  i.e.  his  beautiful  and  marvellous  tale. 


PAGE  152.]  BOOK  II.    EPISTLE  3.  391 

146.  reditum  .  .  .  Meleagri :  the  reference  is  doubtless  to  some 
cyclic  writer,  who  sang  of  the  return  of  Diomedes  from  Troy,  and 
began  his  story  with  the  death  of  Meleager,  the  uncle  of  Diomedes. 

147.  gemino  ab  ovo:  i.e.  with  the  birth  of  Helen,  the  daughter 
of*Leda  and  the  Swan  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  1.  20. 

148.  semper  .  .  .  festinat:  i.e.  without  undue  digression.        in 
medias  res :  so  Virgil  begins  in  the  middle  of  his  story,  and  the  Iliad 
in  the  tenth  year  of  the  Trojan  war. 

150.  tractata  nitescere  posse:  i.e.  of  being  able  to  treat  brill- 
iantly. 

151.  ita  .  .  .  sic :  with  this  object  in  vicic,  explained  by  the  fol- 
lowing purpose  clause.        mentitur:  i.e.  invents. 

152.  primo  .  .  .  imum :  i.e.  so  that  it  is  consistent  throughout. 

153.  et  populus  mecum :  and  the  people  as  well. 

154.  aulaea :  i.e.  the  raising  of  the  curtain  at  the  end  of  the  per- 
formance.    See  note  on  ii.  1.  189. 

155.  cantor :  probably  the  slave  who  stood  near  the  flute-player 
and  sang  the  lyric  parts  of  a  comedy,  while  the  actor  made  the  appro- 
priate gestures. 

157.  decor :  i.e.  its  fitting  representation.        naturis  et  armis : 
i.e.  the  change  in  temperament  at  different  periods  in  life. 

158.  reddere  voces :  i.e.  to  talk,  to  reply  in  words. 

160.  iram  colligit :  a  common  expression  in  poetry  ;   cf.  Ovid, 
Metam.  i.  234,  colligit  os  rabiem.        in  boras :  from  hour  to  hour. 

161.  tandem :  at  last,  indicating  his  impatient  desire  for  freedom 
from  restraint. 

162.  equis  canibusque:   horses  and  hounds.     Cf.  Ter.  Andr.  55, 
Quod  plerique  omnes  faciunt  adulescentuli,  lit  animum  ad  aliquod 
studium  adiungant,  aut  equos  Alere  aut  canes  ad  venandum.       campi : 
i.e.  the  Campus  Martius. 

163.  flecti:  the  infinitive  depends  on  cereus,  as  easily  moulded  as 
wax.    See  Introd.  §  46.  a. 

164.  utilium  .  .  .  provisor :  i.e  slow  in  learning  what  is  best  for 
him. 

165.  amata :  what  has  pleased  him.        relinquere  pernix :  i.e. 
he  changes  his  fancies  quickly  ;  cf.  ii.  1.  100. 

166.  conversis  studiis :   with  a  change  of  taste ;  the  desires  of 
the  mature  man  are  directly  the  opposite  of  those  of  the  youth. 

167.  inservit  honori:  i.e.  he  devotes  himself  to  securing  political 
preferment. 


392  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  152. 

168.  commisisse :  the  perfect  infinitive  pictures  the  act  as  com- 
pleted.    See  Introd.  §  44.  /. 

169.  incommoda :  disagreeable  circumstances,  explained  by  the 
quod  clauses  which  follow. 

170.  inventis:  i.e.  the  wealth  which  he  has  acquired  ;  opposed  to 
prodigus  aeris,  line  164. 

171.  gelide :  opposed  to  the  ardor  which  is  characteristic  of  the 
youth. 

172.  spe  longus :  i.e.  clinging  to  his  hopes,  and  not  pushing  on  to 
their  speedy  fulfilment.        avidus  futuri:  i.e.  eager  for  a  long  life, 
in  which  to  carry  out  his  plans. 

173.  difficilis:  ill-natured;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  5.  90,  and  the  note. 

174.  minorum:  of  his  juniors;  cf.  ii.  1.  84. 

175.  venientes  .  .  .  recedentes:  the  years  up  to  the  prime  of  life 
are  referred  to  as  "coming,"  those  after  as  "going." 

176.  seniles  .  .  .  viriles :  note  the  rhyme ;  cf.  ignores  .  .  .  loco 
res,  i.  12.  25. 

178.  aevo :  to  be  taken  both  with  adiunctis  and  aptis.     On  the 
position  of  -que,  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  115. 

179.  scaenis :  the  plural,  because  it  is  a  general  direction. 

180.  segnius:  i.e.  are  slower  to. 

182.  ipse  sibi  tradit :  contrasted  with  acta  refertur. 

183.  digna  geri :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  24. 

184.  facundia  praesens:    i.e.  the  eloquence  of  an  actor  on  the 
stage,  who  is  supposed  to  have  witnessed  the  deed. 

185.  ne  .  .  .  trucidet :  this  is  in  accordance  with  the  action  in  the 
Medea  of  Euripides,  while  in  the  Medea  of  Seneca,  which  was  not  in- 
tended for  representation  on  the  stage,  the  children  are  killed  coram 
populo. 

188.  sic :  i.e.  before  my  eyes  on  the  stage.        incredulus :  i.e.  the 
miracle  is  less  easily  believed  if  actually  represented  than  if  described. 
odi:  I  dislike. 

189.  quinto  .  .  .  actu:   the  division  of  the  Greek  dramas  into 
acts  seems  to  have  been  the  work  of  the  Alexandrians  ;  the  plays  of 
Plautus  and  Terence  were  first  divided  into  acts  by  the  editors  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  who,  however,  followed  rules  laid  down  by  the 
Roman  grammarians. 

191.  nee:  instead  of  neve;  cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  73.  deus:  the 
reference  is,  of  course,  to  the  deus  ex  machina,  introduced  to  bring 
the  action  to  a  successful  denouement.  The  device  seems  to  have 


PAGE  153.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  393 

been    abused    by    unskilful    or    indolent    writers ;    hence    Horace's 
injunction. 

192.  quarta  .  .  .  persona:  the  number  of  actors  who  simulta- 
neously took  part  in  the  action  of  the  Greek  tragedies  was  gradually 
increased  from  one  to  three.     The  same  actor  might  personate  two 
characters  who  did  not  appear  together,  and  additional  mutae  personae 
were  sometimes  introduced.     The  same  was  true  in  general  of  the 
old  comedy,  but  not  of  the  new.        laboret :  struggle,  contrary  to 
the  rules  of  the  art. 

193.  actoris  partis :  i.e.  the  chorus  should  take  part  in  the  action 
of  the  play  through  its  leader,  and  by  representing  something  con- 
nected with  the  action,  an  army,   a  group  of  suppliants,  etc.     On 
account  of  the  arrangement  of  the  Roman  theatre,  the  chorus  stood 
upon  the  stage,  and  was  thus  even  more  closely  connected  with  the 
actors  than,  in  the  Greek  drama.        officium  virile :  Us  full  duty;  cf. 
Cic.  Verr.  ii.  4.  81,  est  aliqua  mea  pars  virilis,   quod  eius  civitatis 
sum,  quam  ille  claram  reddidit.    With  partes  defendat,  cf.  Serm.  i. 
10.  12.     The  function  of  the  chorus  was  in  general  to  interpret  the 
action  to  the  audience  and  to  comment  on  its  ethical  bearing. 

194.  actus :  governed  by  inter  in  composition. 

195.  proposito :  the  theme,  the  plot. 

196-201.   Note  the  combination  of  polysyndeton  and  asyndetic 
anaphora  in  this  description  of  the  duties  of  the  chorus. 

196.  bonis  faveat :  the  chorus  usually  pleaded  the  cause  of  right 
and  justice.        consilietur :  give  counsel;  lit.  consult  for  the  interest 
of. 

197.  pacare  timentis :  to  soothe  those  who  fear. 

198.  mensae  brevis:  cf.  cena  brevis,  i.  14.  35. 

199.  apertis  otia  portis :    cf.    Odes,   iii.    5.   23.     Apertis  portis 
seems  to  be  ablative  of  quality. 

200.  tegat  commissa :  keep  secrets,  as  the  confidant  of  the  actors. 
Cf.  Odes,  iii.  2.  25  ff. 

201.  fortuna  :  i.e.  good  fortune  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  6.  49. 

202.  tibia  :  Horace  now  considers  the  musical  part  of  the  drama, 
and  sketches  the  development  of  the  tibia.        orichalco  :  a  kind  of 
copper  (Plin.  JV.  H.  xxxiv.  2),  called  by  the  Greeks  6/>et'xaXicos.     It  was 
connected  by  popular  etymology  with  aurum,  and  hence  often  spelled 
aurichalcum. 

203.  tenuis  :  with  reference  to  the  sound.        simplex  :   i.e.  not 
double,  as  in  later  times.        foramine  pauco  :  with  few  holes.     Pan- 


394  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  153. 

cus  in  the  singular  is  comparatively  rare,  and  seems  to  belong  to  the 
sermo  plebeius. 

204.    adspirare  et  adesse  :  to  accompany  and  support.        erat 
utilis  :  was  used  to.     Cf.flebilis  for  fletus,  Odes,  i.  24.  9. 

206.  quo :  to  which,  referring  to  sedilia.        numerabilis  :  easily 
counted;  a  word  coined  by  Horace.     The  Greek  eva/n'fl^Tos. 

207.  frugi  verecundus  :  and  so  content  with  simple  music. 

208.  postquam  :  with  the  growth  of  the  state  and  the  increase  of 
luxury,  the  taste  for  more  elaborate  music  was  developed.        urbis  : 
general. 

209.  latior  :  of  wider  extent.        vino  diurno  :  a  mark  of  luxury  ; 
cf.  Odes,  i.  1.  20 ;  Serm.  ii.  8.  3. 

210.  placari  Genius :  cf.   ii.   1.   144.         impune  :  i.e.  without 
reproach. 

211.  numerisque  modisque :  cf.  ii.  2.  144. 

212.  saperet :  cf.  ii.  1.  68  ;   subjunctive  in  a  dubitative  question 
transferred  to  the  past.        laborum :  for  the  construction,  cf.  Odes, 
iii.  17.  16  ;  see  Introd.  §  40.  b. 

213.  turpis  honesto  :   the  lower  classes  were  not  yet  separated 
from  the  senators  and  knights. 

214.  sic:    consequently.         motumque  et  luxuriem :    'move- 
ment of  limb  and  splendid  dress'  (Bryce). 

215.  vagus  :  moving  about,  instead  of  standing  in  one  place  as 
formerly.         traxit    vestem :   i.e.   he  was  clad  in  a  long  flowing 
robe. 

216.  voces  :  notes.     New  strings  were  added  to  the  original  num- 
ber,       severis  :  grave ;  contrasted  with  the  tibia. 

217.  eloquium :    language.      The  language  of  the  chorus  was 
affected  by  the  change  in  the  music.        praeceps :    headlong,  im- 
petuous. 

219.  sententia  :   i.  e.  its  style  was  wild  and  obscure,  like  that  of 
the  Delphic  oracle  ;  sortilegis  is  used  in  a  general  sense,  not  literally. 

220.  qui :  i.e.  the  early  tragic  actor.     The  derivation  of  tragoedia 
from  rpdyos  q>5r}  was  generally  accepted  in  ancient  times,  although  the 
name  is  now  believed  to  have  arisen  from  the  dress  and  appearance  of 
the  actors. 

221.  nudavit :  i.e.  the  chorus  laid  aside  their  robes  and  appeared 
as  satyrs,  lightly  clad  in  skins.         asper  :  i.e.  rudely. 

222.  incolunii  gravitate  :  i.e.  the  dignity  of  the  gods  and  heroes 
was  not  sacrificed  ;  cf.  lines  225-233. 


PAGE  154.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  395 

223.  morandus  :  kept  in  his  place,  interested. 

224.  functusque    sacris :    a  banquet  always  accompanied   the 
sacrifices,  and  free  drinking  was  a  feature  of  the  Dionysiac  festival. 

225.  ita:  with  this  in  mind,  explained  by  the  following  purpose 
clauses. 

226.  vertere  seria  ludo  :  i.e.  to  pass  from  the  gravity  of  tragedy 
to  the  gayety  of  the  satyr-drama. 

228.  nuper  :  previously,  not  necessarily  in  the  immediately  pre- 
ceding tragedy. 

229.  tabernas  :  hovels;    the  meaning  is  to  represent  the  lower 
classes,  with  language  to  match. 

230.  aut   .   .   .   captet :    i.e.   in  aiming  to  avoid  commonplace 
language,  become  bombastic. 

231.  indigna  :  not  deigning. 

232.  festis  .   .  .  diebus:  on  the  Hilaria  matrons  danced.     Cf. 
also  Odes,  ii.   12.   17.      Dancing,  except  on  religious  festivals,  was 
regarded  as  disreputable. 

233.  paullum   pudibunda :   for  a   time   only  and  with  proper 
modesty  ;  note  the  alliteration. 

234.  dominantia  :  current,  common,  i.e.  not  figurative  or  in  any 
way  peculiar    or    noteworthy;    a   translation    of    the    Greek    Ktpia. 
nomina  verbaque  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  103. 

235.  Satyronim  scriptor :  i.e.  if  I  write  satyr-dramas. 

236.  differre :  for  the  dative  with  this  verb,  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  48. 

237.  Davus  .  .  .  Pythias  .  .  .  Simone  :    characters  of  Roman 
comedy. 

238.  emuncto  :  a  coarse  expression,  taken  from  comedy  ;  cf.  Ter. 
Phorm.  682,  emunxi  argento  senes. 

239.  Silenus :  an  old  satyr,  the  companion  of  Bacchus  ;  a  common 
character  in  the  satyr-drama.      His  language  should  differ  from  that 
of  the  slaves.     Cf.  Virg.  Eel.  vi.  31  ff. 

240.  carmen:  a  poetic  style,'  cf.  Quint,  x.  7.  19,  cum  hancfacili- 
tatem  (extemporalem}  non  in  prosa  modo  multi  sunt  consecuti,  sed 
etiam  in  carmine.        ex  noto  :  from  familiar  materials. 

242.  series :  cf.  line  46,  in  verbis  serendis.        iunctura  :  cf.  lines 
47-48. 

243.  de   medio   sumptis :    cf.   Cic.    Orat.    49.   163,   verba  .  .  . 
legenda  sunt  potissimum  bene  sonantia,  sed  ea  non  ut  poetae  ex- 
quisita  ad  sonum,  sed  sumpta  de  medio.        honoris:  adornment; 
cf.  Odes,  ii.  19.  14. 


396  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  154. 

244.  deducti:  brought  upon  the  stage.      Fauni  :  used  as  synony- 
mous with  Satyri. 

245.  innati  triviis  .   .  .  forenses  :  i.e.  natives  of  the  city  ;  there 
seems  to  be  no  contrast  intended  between  innati  triviis  and  forenses. 

246.  teneris  :    too  refined,  decadent,  contrasted  with  the  coarse 
vigor  of  the  country.     Both  extremes  are  to  be  avoided.        iuvenen- 
tur  :  apparently  a  new  coinage  of  Horace  ;  a  translation  of  the  Greek 
veaviefe<r0ai,  which  means  '  to  act  like  a  youth,'  and  hence  *  to  act  wil- 
fully or  wantonly.' 

247.  immunda  :  obscenities.        crepent :  blurt  out.    Cf.  i.  7.  84. 

248.  quibus  est  equus  et  pater  et  res:  i.e.  the  knights.     Cf. 
Serm.  i.  10.  76. 

249.  fricti  ciceris  .  .  .  emptor :  the  common  people.     Cf.  Serm. 
ii.  3.  182. 

250.  aequis   .   .   .   animis:    with  favor.        donantve   corona: 
award  you  a  crown,  as  in  Greece  ;  here  used  figuratively. 

251.  syllaba  .  .  .  iambus:    Horace  begins  his  treatment  of  the 
metre  with  a  definition  of  the  iambus. 

252.  pes  citus  :  cf.  Odes,  i.  16.  24,  celeres  iambos.        unde  :  for 
which  reason.       trimetris  ,  .  .  nomen :    the  name  '  trimeter '  ;  tri- 
metris  is  attracted  to  the  case  of  iambeis.       adcrescere :  (gradually) 
to  become  attached.        iussit :  sc.  pes. 

253.  cum :  although.         senos  .  .  .  ictus  :   six  beats.     It  was 
called  'trimeter'  as  consisting  of  three  dipodies  of  two  feet  each. 

254.  primus  ad  extremum  similis  :  i.e.  all  the  feet  were  iambic. 
non  ita  pridem  :  not  so  very  long  before,  referring  not  to  Horace's 
own  day,  but  to  the  time  of  iusstt  or  to  the  early  days  of  the  iambic 
trimeter.     Kiessling  compares  Cic.  Brut.  10.  41,  Themistocles  .  .  .  fuit 
regnante  iam  Graecia,  nostra  autem  civitate  non  ita  pridem  dominatu 
regio  liberata. 

256.  stabilis:  stately,  contrasted  with  the  pes  citus.        paterna: 
hereditary. 

257.  non  ut :  not,  however,  to  the  extent  that.        secunda  .  .  . 
aut  quarta  :  the  iambus  also  retained  its  place  in  the  last  foot. 

258.  socialiter :   in  full  partnership,  a  word  coined  by  Horace. 
hie :  i.e.  iambus. 

259.  nobilibus:  well-known,  familiar. 

260.  Note  the  metre  of  the  line,  which  imitates  the  peculiarity 
which  it  describes. 

262.  premit :  sc.  iambus,  which,  through  its  absence,  brings  the 


PAGE  155.]  BOOK  II.    EPISTLE  3.  397 

charge.    For  the  meaning  of  premit,  cf.  Liv.  iii.  13.  1,  premebat  reum 
praeter  volgatam  invidiam  crime n  unum. 

263.  non  quivis  .  .  .  iudex :  not  every  one  is  competent  to  judge 
good  poetry,  hence  the  early  Roman  audiences  were  tolerant.     Cicero, 
however,  says  of  a  later  time,  de  Orat.  iii.  50.  196,  at  in  his  (numeris  et 
modis},  si paulum  modo  offensum  est,  theatra  tota  reclamant.     On  the 
metre,  see  Introd.  §  56. 

264.  indigna :  unworthy  of  them,  i.e.  which  they  ought  not  to  have 
needed.        poetis :  dative  ;  but  it  may  betaken  with  indigna  as  well, 
d-n-6  KOIVOV;  see  Introd.  §  42. 

265.  idcirco :    therefore,  because   indulgence  has  been  given  to 
others.        vager:    roam  unrestrained;    cf.    vaga,    Serm.    ii.    7.    74. 
an:    or  rather.         omiiis  visuros:   shall   I  think  that  every   one 
will  see  my  faults,  and  therefore  avoid  criticism  ? 

266.  intra  spem  veniae:   i.e.  not  going  so  far  as  to  be  beyond 
pardon. 

267.  vitavi  denique  culpam :  in  that  case  I  have  only  avoided 
blame,  not  deserved  praise  ;   i.e.  such  self-restraint  is  no  more  than 
ought  to  be  expected. 

269.  nocturna  .  .  .  diuma :  i.e.  read  them  night  and  day.     Cf.  i. 
19.  11,  and  the  note. 

270.  Plautinos  .  .  .  numeros:  cf.  ii.  1.  170  ff. 

271.  nimium  patienter :  with  too  much  indulgence. 

273.  inurbanum:  coarse.        lepido:  witty. 

274.  digitis:   the  fingers  were  used  for  counting  the   feet;   cf. 
Quint,  ix.  4.  51,  tempora  etiam  animo  metiuntur  etpedum  et  digitorum 
ictu  intervalla  signant  quibusdam  modis. 

276.  plaustris :  Horace  appears  to  have  confused  the  beginnings 
of  comedy  and  those  of  tragedy  ;  for  while  Thespis  was  the  inventor  of 
tragedy,  the  rest  of  the  description  is  appropriate  only  to  comedy. 

277.  peruncti  faecibus  ora :  this  practice,  which  was  confined  to 
comedy,  seems  to  have  had  the  same  purpose  as  the  mask,  —  to  disguise 
the  actor. 

278.  repertor :  Aeschylus  was  credited  with  the  invention  of  many 
theatrical  properties,  some  of  which  were  doubtless  in  use  before  his 
time.        honestae :   decorative,  beautiful ;  cf.  honor,  line  243  above. 

279.  pulpita :  a  stage,  which  was  at  first  temporary  and  of  moder- 
ate size  (modicis  tignis). 

280.  magnum  loqui :  to  adopt  a  lofty  style.     Magnum  is  accusa- 
tive of  the  inner  object. 


398  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  155. 

281.  successit :  although  the  origin  of  comedy  seems  to  have  been 
as  early  as  that  of  tragedy,  its  development  was  slower,  and  the  state- 
ment of  the  poet  is  true  of  the  old  comedy.        his :  i.e.  Thespis  and 
Aeschylus. 

282.  libertas:  freedom  of  speech  •  cf.  Serin,  i.  4.  Iff.        excidit: 
descended. 

283.  estaccepta:  sc.  a  comoedia. 

284.  turpiter:   with  obticuit ;  the  disgrace  consisted  in  the  fact 
that  it  had  been  necessary  to  restrain  them  by  law. 

285.  nil  intemptatum :  i.e.  the  Roman  poets  tried  their  hand  at 
all  the  branches  of  Greek  drama. 

287.  domestica  facta  :  i.e.  episodes  in  their  national  history  and 
life. 

288.  praetextas :  tragedies  based  on  Roman  myth  and  history,  in 
which  many  of  the  characters  were  clad  in  the  toga  praetexta.     We 
should  expect  the  term  praetextatae,  corresponding  to  togatae,  but 
praetextae  is  the  usual  form.          togatas :    comedies   representing 
scenes  from  Roman  daily  life,  in  which  the  principal  personages  wore 
the  toga. 

290.  unum  quemque  :  some  critics  believe  that  in  this  tmesis  Hor- 
ace is  illustrating  the  carelessness  which  he  censures',  but  cf.  ii.  2.  188. 

291.  limae  labor  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  65. 

292.  Fompilius  sanguis  :  the  Calpurnii,  the  gens  of  the  Pisones, 
claimed  descent  from  Numa,  through  his  son  Calpus.     For  the  nomi- 
native instead  of  the  vocative,  cf.  Odes,  i.  2.  43. 

293.  multa  dies  :  long  time  ;  note  the  gender  of  dies.          coer- 
cuit :  pruned ;  cf.  Cic.  de  Sen.  15.  52,  quam  (vitem')  serpentem  multi- 
plici  lapsu  et  erratico  ferro  amputans  coercet  ars  agricolarum. 

294.  perfectum  :    to  perfection,  agreeing  with  quod.         castiga- 
vit  ad  unguem :    a  figure  drawn  from  the  sculptor's  art ;   see  note  on 
Serm.  i.  5.  32. 

295.  ingenium :    talent,    natural    ability.  misera  :   pitiful, 
because  of  the  mechanical  labor  it  involves. 

296.  excludit  sanos  .  .  .  poetas :  cf.  Cic.  de-Div.  i.  37.  80,  negat 
sine  furore  Democritus  quemquam  poetam  magnum  esse  posse. 

297.  bona  pars:  i.e.  most  poets  ;  cf.   Odes,  iv.  2.  46  ;  Serm.  i.  1. 
61.          unguis  ponere:  i.e.  they  affect  negligence  in  their  personal 
appearance  ;  there  is  perhaps  a  reference  to  ad  unguem  in  line  294. 

299.  nanciscetur  :  the  subject  is  'one,'  implied  in  bona  pars. 

300.  tribus  Anticyris  :    see  note  on  Serm.  ii.  3.  83  ;    although 


PAGE  156.]  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  399 

there  were  three  towns  of  this  name,  tribus  is  very  likely  used  in  a 
general  sense  ;  see  Introd.  §  50. 

301.  Licino :    a  barber  of  the  day,  otherwise  unknown.      The 
statement  of  Ps-Acron  and  the  Comm.  Cruq.,  who  identify  him  with  a 
wealthy  Licinius,  procurator  of  Gaul  under  Augustus,  has  little  prob- 
ability. O  ego  laevus :  what  a  fool  I  am! 

302.  bilem  :  accusative  with  purgor,   which  is  used  in  a  middle 
sense.        hpram:  season. 

303.  faceret  :  sc.  si  purgarer  bilem. 

304.  nil  tanti  est :  it  is  by  no  means  worth  while.        fungar  vice 
cotis :  i.e.  I  will  teach  others  to  write.     The  expression  goes  back 
to  Isocrates. 

305.  valet  =  potest. 

306.  munus  et  ofn'cium  :  function  and  duty;  sc.  scriptoris. 

307.  opes  :  material. 

308.  virtus  :  literary  ability. 

309.  recte  :    to  be  taken   with  scribendi;    cf.   Serm.   i.   4.  13. 
sapere :  good  sense  ;  a  reply  to  the  thought  in  line  296. 

310.  rem  :  your  subject,  material.         Socraticae  .  .  .  chartae : 
i.e.  the  writings  of  Plato,  Xenophon,  and  the  later  pupils  of  Socrates. 

311.  verba  .  .  .  sequentur  :  cf.  the  proverb  attributed  to  Cato, 
rem  tene,  verba  sequentur  ;  Cic.    Orat.  iii.  3.  125,  rerum  enim  copia 
verborum  copiam  gignit. 

312.  quid  debeat :  what  one  owes. 

314.  conscript!  :  sc.  patris,  a  senator.        iudicis :   cf.  Serm.  i. 
4.  123,  and  the  note. 

315.  partes:  the  role. 

317.  exemplar:  model;  cf.  i.  2.  18. 

318.  doctum  imitatorem :    i.e.   the   well-trained  delineator  of 
character.        vivas  :  trite  to  life. 

319.  speciosa  locis:  i.e.  with  brilliant  passages,  although  as  a 
whole  not  artistic  or  strong.        niorata  recte  :  i.  e.  true  to  life  ;  with 
the  characters  correctly  drawn. 

321.  valdius :  the  colloquial  form  ;  see  note  on  /Serm.  i.  3.  53. 

322.  inopes  rerum  :  i.e.  without  ideas.     For  the  case  of  rerum, 
see  Introd.  §  40.  a.        nugae  canorae  :  i.e.  with  polished  and  musical 
versification,  but  with  commonplace  subject-matter. 

323.  Grais  :  i.e.  the  superiority  of  the  Greeks  in  literature  is  due 
to  their  devotion  to  the  arts  rather  than  to  commerce.  ore 
rotundo  :  in  well-rounded  phrases,  the  Greek 


400  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  156. 

324.  praeter  laudem  .  .  .  avaris  :  contrasted  by  anticipation 
with  the  avarice  of  the  Romans  and  their  greed  for  gain. 

326.  dicat,  etc. :  picturing  a  recitation  at  school. 

327.  Albini:  a  usurer  of  the  day,  according  to  Ps-Acron. 

328.  poteras :   the  imperfect  seems  to   express  impatience,   you 
might  have  told  me  by  this  time.     See  In  trod.  §  44.  b. 

330.  aerugo:  disease,  lit.  verdigris;  cf.  Serm.  i.  4.  101.  pe- 
culi :  lit.  the  savings  of  a  slave,  thus  stigmatizing  such  parsimony  as 
sordid  and  unworthy  of  a  freeman. 

332.  linenda  cedro  :  the  unwritten  sides  of  valuable  manuscripts 
were  smeared  with  oil  of  cedar,  to  keep  off  moths  ;  hence  the  phrase 
means  worth  keeping.  Cf.  Pers.  i.  42,  cedro  digna  locntus.  cu- 
presso  :  according  to  the  Comm.  Cruq.,  book-boxes  of  cypress  wood 
were  used  to  protect  manuscripts  from  worms. 

335.  esto  brevis  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  10.  9  f. 

336.  dociles  .  .  .  fideles  :  predicate  adjectives. 

337.  omne   supervacuum  .  .  .  manat :   i.e.  everything  that  is 
more  than  enough  to  be  intelligible  is  lost,  just  as  liquid  which  is 
poured  into  a  full  vessel  flows  off. 

338.  voluptatis  causa  :  i.e.  ut  delectent.        proxima  veris  :  i.e. 
such  as  might  be  imagined  as  actually  taking"  place  ;  credible. 

339.  ne :   parenthetical  final  particle,   /  say  this  that  .   .   .   not. 
fabula:  a  play. 

340.  Lamiae  :  a  queen  of  Libya,  who  was  loved  by  Zeus.    Hera 
destroyed  her  offspring,  whereupon  she  became  an  ogress  and  fed  upon 
children. 

341.  centuriae  seniorum :  i.e.  the  older  men.     According  to  the 
Servian  constitution,  those   in  each  class  who  were  over  forty-five 
years  old.        expertia  frugis  :  i.e.  without  any  moral. 

342.  Ramiies :  the  young  nobles.    The  Ramnes  were  one  of  the 
three  original  centuries  of  equites,  consisting  of  young  men  of  good 
family. 

343.  omne  tulit  punctum  :    that  is,  he  pleases  and  wins  the 
approval  of  everybody.     On  punctum,  see  ii.  2.  99.     Tulit  is  gnomic 
perfect ;  see  Introd.  §  44.  d. 

345.  Sosiis  :  a  well-known  publishing  firm  of  the  day  ;  see  i.  20. 
2.         mare  transit:   i.e.  it  is  popular  abroad  as  well  as  at  home. 
Cf.  the  opposite  idea  in  i.  20.  13. 

346.  longum  :  proleptic,  to  a  distant  day. 

347.  sunt  delicta  .      .  velimus  :  i.e.  there  are  some  faults  which 


PAGE  158.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  401 

we  cannot  avoid,  for  which  we  would  ask  indulgence.  ignovisse : 
the  perfect  infinitive  has  nearly,  if  not  quite,  the  force  of  the  present. 
This  use  is  especially  common  with  volo  and  nolo,  doubtless  through 
the  analogy  of  the  usage  in  laws  ;  cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  187,  and  Introd. 
§  44.  /. 

348.   chorda  :  the  string,  of  a  lyre. 

350.  minabitur :  sc.  ferire. 

351.  plura  nitent :  there  are  more  brilliant  passages,  i.e.  they  are 
in  the  majority. 

352.  incuria :  the  national  failing  mentioned  in  line  291. 

353.  humana  parum  cavit  natura :  blemishes  such  as  are  re- 
ferred to  in  lines  347  f.         quid  ergo  est :  how  is  it  then,  i.e.  what 
faults  are  pardonable  and  what  are  not  ? 

354.  ut :  as.          scriptor  .  .  .  librarius :  a  copyist.         peccat 
idem  :  makes  the  same  mistake. 

357.  multum  cessat :  is  often  negligent.        fit  Choerilus  ille : 
is  like  our  friend  Choerilus;  cf.  ii.  1.232.     Ille  means  strictly  'the 
well-known,'  or  something  equivalent. 

358.  bis  terque  bonum  :  if  he  is  good  two  or  three  times  ;  for  the 
use  of  -que  in  this  expression,  cf.  unus  et  alter,  ii.  1.  74. 

359.  indignor  :  I  am  vexed,  because  I  expect  perfection  ;  this  is 
inconsistent  with  lines  351-352. 

360.  verum  :  but  yet. 

361.  ut  pictura  poesis  :  i.e.  poetry  should  be  judged  like  a  paint- 
ing.    Cf.  Auct.  ad  Her.  iv.  28.  39,  poema  loquens  pictura,  pictura  taci- 
turn poema  debet  esse. 

362.  abstes  :  a  rare  word,  not  elsewhere  found  in  this  sense. 
Cf.  Plaut.  Trin.  264,  Mille  modis  amor  ignorandust,  procul  adhiben- 
dust,  atque  abstandus. 

363.  amat  obscumm :  needs  a  dim  light. 

364.  iudicis  :  critic. 

365.  A  picture  which  is  to  be  exhibited  once  needs  a  different 
treatment  from  one  which  is  to  be  seen  again  and  again. 

366.  O  maior  iuvenum  :  addressed  to  the  elder  of  the  two  Pisos, 
who  may  have  shown  a  tendency  to  do  careless  work. 

368.  tolle:  take  to  heart;  cf.  i.  18.  12.        certis  rebus:  particu- 
lar things,  such  as  are  mentioned  in  the  following  lines. 

370.  abest  virtute :  may  not  have  the  ability. 

371.  Messallae:    see  note  on   Serm.  i.    10.  29.        Cascellius 
Aulus  :  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  the  Ciceronian  epoch. 


402  BOOK  II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  158. 


372.  mediocribus  :  attracted  to  the  case 

373.  columnae  :  the  pillars  in  front  of  the  book-shops  (cf.  pilae, 
Serm.  i.  4.  71)  on  which  the  names  of  the  books  which  were  for  sale 
were  posted.     The  meaning  is  that  such  a  poet's  works  will  not  sell. 

374.  symphonia  :  the  music  which  often  formed  a  feature  of  a 
banquet.     Symphonia  discors  is  an  oxymoron. 

375.  crassum:  thick,  i.e.  not  well  mixed.        Sardo  melle  :  the 
Sardinian  honey  was  bitter.     Porph.  says  :   Corsicum  et  Sardum  mel 
pessimi  saporis  est.        papaver  :  cf.  Plin.  N.  H.  xix.   168,  papaver 
candidum,  cuius  semen  tostum  in  secunda  mensa  cum  melle  apud  anti- 
quos  dabatur. 

376.  duci  :  carried  on,  like  vitam  ducere,  not  parallel  with  pro- 
ducimus,  Serm.  i.  5.  70. 

377.  natum  inventumque  :  natum  of  the  inspiration  which  sug- 
gests the  poem  ;  inventum  of  the  artistic  details. 

378.  summo  decessit  :  has  fallen  short  of  perfection. 

379.  campestribua  armis  :  of  the  military  sports  in  the  Campus 
Martius  ;  cf.  i.  18.  54. 

380.  indoctus:   followed  by  the  genitive,  after  the  analogy  of 
imperitus,  etc.         pilae  discive:  cf.  Serm.  ii.  2.  11.         trochi:  cf. 
Odes,  iii.  24.  57. 

381.  spissae  :  cf.  line  205  and  i.  19.  41.        impune  :  rightly,  with- 
out criticism.        coronae  :  cf.  i.  18.  53. 

382.  fingere  :  with  nescit  and  audet.        quidni  :  ironical. 

383.  liber  :  opposed  to  servus.       ingenuus  :  opposed  to  libertinus  ; 
cf.  Serm.  i.  6.  8.        census  :  participle,  rated  at;  the  construction  with 
the  ablative  is  more  frequent  ;  the  accusative  occurs  in  Cic.  Flacc.  32. 
80,  the  only  other  example  before  Gellius.        equestrem  summam  : 
cf.  i.  1.  58,  and  the  note. 

385.  tu  :  addressed  to  the  elder  of  the  Pisos  ;  cf.  v.  366.        invita 
...  Minerva:  cf.  Cic.  de  Off.  i.  31.  110,  nihil  dicet  invita  Minerva,  ut 
aiunt,  id  est  adversante  et  repugnante  natura. 

386.  olim:  ever. 

387.  Maeci:  i.e.  Maecius  Tarpa  ;  see  note  on  Serm.  i.  10.  38. 

388.  nonumque  in  annum  :  perhaps  with  reference  to  the  Smyrna 
of  C.  Helvidius  Cinna.     Cf.  Catull.  95.  1,  Zmyrna  mei  Cinnae  nonam 
post  denique  messem  Quam  coepta  est  nonamque  edita  post  hiemem. 
The  numeral  is  indefinite  ;  see  Introd.  §  50. 

389.  membranis  intus  positis:   i.e.  the  poem  is  to  be  finished 
and  then  laid  away  for  nine  years.     On  membranis,  see  Serm.  ii.  3.  2. 


PAGE  159.]  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  403 

390.  nescit  .  .  .  reverti  :    cf.  i.  18.  71. 

391.  silvestris  homines  :  i.e.  primitive  men.        sacer  :  cf.  Odes, 
iv.  9.  28,  vate  sacro. 

392.  victu  foedo  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  100,  glandem. 

393.  lenire  tigris:  cf.  Odes,  iii.  11.  13. 

394.  Amphion  :  son  of  Zeus  and  Antiope  and  brother  of  Zethus. 
He  played  so  skilfully  on  the  lyre  given  him  by  Hermes,  that  the 
stones  moved  into  place  of  their  own  accord  and  formed  the  walls  of 
Thebes;  cf.  Odes,  iii.  11.  2. 

395.  prece  blanda  :  the  words  of  his  songs  distinguished  from  the 
music  of  the  lyre. 

396.  sapientia:  predicate. 

398.  concubitu  .  .  .  vago  :  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  109.        iura  :  i.e.  regu- 
lating inheritance,  etc. 

399.  ligno  :   the  laws  of  Solon  were  cut  on  tablets  of  wood  called 


400.  honor  et  nomen:   honor  and  reputation,  a  common  com- 
bination in  Latin. 

401.  hos:   Orpheus  and  Amphion,  and  the  other  divini  vates. 
Homerus:  sc.fuit. 

402.  Tyrtaeus  :  an  elegiac  poet  whose  poems  were  an  inspiration 
to  the  Spartans  during  the  second  Messenian  war  (685-668  B.C.).     He 
appears  to  have  been  born  at  Aphidnae  in  Attica  ;  but  the  story  that 
he  was  a  lame  schoolmaster,  whom  the  Athenians  sent  to  the  Lacedae- 
monians when  the  latter  had  been  commanded  by  the  oracle  to  apply 
to  Athens  for  help,  is  doubtless  an  invention  of  later  times.       marea  : 
cf.  i.  1.  64. 

403.  sortes  :  the  oracles,  such  as  that  at  Delphi,  were  given  in 
metrical  form. 

404.  vitae  .  .  .  via  :  by  the  gnomic  and  didactic  poets,  Hesiod, 
Solon,  Theognis,  etc.        gratia  regum  .  .  .  temptata:  referring  to 
the  lyric  poets,  Pindar,  Simonides,  Bacchylides,  and  the  like,  who  had 
kings  as  their  patrons. 

405.  Pieriis:  the  Muses,  so-called  from  their  birthplace,  Pieria, 
a  district  in  southeastern  Macedonia,  near  Mount  Olympus  ;   cf.  Odes, 
iv.  3.  18.          ludus  :   dramatic  festivals,  originally  celebrated  at  the 
end  of  the  harvest,  hence  longorum  operum  finis  (406). 

406.  ne  ...  sit:  (I  say  this)  that  you  may  not  be  ashamed. 
408.   natura  ...  an  arte  :  i.e.  whether  poets  are  born  or  made. 

The  question  is  often  discussed. 


404  BOOK   II.     EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  159. 

409.  vena :  c/.  Odes,  ii.  18.  10. 

410.  rude :  untrained.       sic :  to  such  a  degree,  or  so  true  is  it  that. 

411.  coniurat  amice:  forms  a  friendly  alliance. 

412.  metam :  goal,  used  in  a  different  sense  from  that  in  Odes,  i. 

I.  4. 

414.   Pythia  cantat:  plays  at  the  Pythian  games;  cf.  coronari 
Olympia,  i.  1.  50. 

416.  mine:  nowadays. 

417.  occupet  extremum  scabies :  like  our  expression,  '  the  devil 
take  the  hindmost.'     Porph.  says  :  hoc  ex  lusu  puerorum  sustulit,  qui 
ludentes  solent  dicere :    '  quisque  ad  me   novissimus  venerit,  habeat 
scabiemS     The  last  clause  is  rearranged  by  Lucian  Mueller  to  form 
a  trochaic  tetrameter  :  habeat  scabiem  quisquis  ad  me  venerit  novis- 
simus. 

418.  sane :  at  all,  with  nescire. 

419.  praeco  :  an  auctioneer. 

420.  adlucrum:  i.e.  to  gain  something  from  him. 

421.  Repeated  from  Serm.  i.  2.  13. 

422.  vero:  but.        unctum :  cf.  i.  15.  44.        ponere:  serve;  cf. 
Serm.  ii.  2.  23.     For  the  use  of  the  simple  verb  for  the  compound,  see 
Introd.  §  35.  b. 

423.  levi :  irresponsible,  who,  on  account  of  his  levitas,  has  got 
into  debt.        atris:   gloomy,  harassing;  cf.   atrae  curae,   Odes,  iv. 

II.  35. 

425.  beatus:  wealthy  as  he  is;  cf.  ii.  2.  108. 

426.  donaris:  future  perfect. 

427.  tibi:  dative  of  the  apparent  agent  with  factos.          plenum 
laetitiae  :  because  he  has  received  the  gift  or  counts  on  receiving  it. 

429.  super  his:  at  these,  i.e.  at  verses  intended  to  cause  terror. 
amicis :  sympathetic. 

430.  saliet  :    i.e.    he    will  leap   from    his  seat    in    admiration. 
tundet  pede  terram :    stamp  in  indignation  or  delight  at  some  scene. 

431.  conduct!  :  hired  mourners  sang  dirges  at  the  Roman  funerals. 
Cf.  Lucil.  808,  L.,  mercede  quae  conductae  flent  alieno  in  funere,  Prae- 
flcae  multo  et  capillos  scindunt  et  clamant  magis. 

433.    derisor  :  his  real  character,  although  he  flatters  his  patron. 
Cf.  i.  18.  11. 

435.  torquere  mero  :  cf.  Odes,  iii.  21.  13 ;  Serm.  i.  4.  89  ;  i.  18.  38. 
laborent :  subjunctive  in  indirect  discourse. 

436.  an  :  implying  an  affirmative  answer. 


PAGE  160.]  BOOK    II.     EPISTLES.  405 

437.  sub  volpe :  with  reference  to  the  fable  of  the  Fox  and  the 
Crow. 

438.  Quintilio :    referring  to  Quintilius  Varus,  whose  death   in 
23  B.C.  Horace  laments  in  Odes,  i.  24.     He  is  cited  as  an  example  of 
a  true  friend  and  a  sincere  critic.         recitares  :  iterative  subjunctive  ; 
see  B.  302.  3.  a.        sodes  :  cf.  i.  1.  62. 

439.  aiebat :  he  used  to  say.          negates :  protasis  without  an 
introductory  word  (cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  57),  or  perhaps  dependent  on  si 
in  line  438. 

441.  tornatos :  turned.     The  tornus  was  used  in  bronze  working. 
If  the  work  was  a  failure,  the  object  was  placed  on  the  anvil  and  ham- 
mered into  a  mass,  in  order  to  make  a  new  attempt. 

442.  vertere:  change,  reform.          malles:  see  note  on  negares, 
line  439. 

444.  quin  :  to  prevent  you  from.        sine  rival! :  cf.  Cic.  ad  Quint. 
Frat.  iii.  8.  4,  o  di,  quam  ineptus,  quam  se  ipsum  amans  sine  rivali. 

445.  vir  bonus  et  prudens  :  like  Quintilius,  line  438.       inertis : 
weak. 

446.  duros  :   harsh ;  cf.   Serm.  i.  4.  8.          incomptis  :   lacking 
elegance. 

447.  transverse  calamo  :   drawing  the  stilus  across  (through) 
them.         ambitiosa  :  pretentious. 

448.  parum  Claris  :  obscure,  not  expressing  the  thought  clearly. 

449.  arguet :  censure. 

450.  Aristarchus  :  an  Aristarchus,  referring  to  the  famous  Alex- 
andrine critic  (circ.  156  B.C.),  especially  noted  for  his  work  on  the  text 
of  Homer.     His  name  had  become  proverbial  as  that  of  a  keen,  but 
not  necessarily  severe  critic. 

451.  hae  nugae  :  i.e.  these  so-called  trifles.        seria  :  serious. 

452.  semel :  once  for  all,  i.e.  when  he  reads  his  poems  in  public, 
the  judgment  is  unfavorable  arid  final. 

453.  morbus  regius  :  the  jaundice,  so  called,  according  to  Celsus 
(iii.  24),  on  account  of  the  costly  remedies  necessary  for  its  cure.     It 
was  not  contagious,  but  the  patient  was  probably  avoided  on  account 
of  his  bad  temper. 

454.  fanaticus  :  strictly  applied  to  the  mad  devotees  of  the  Cap- 
padocian  goddess  identified  with  Bellona.     Cf.  Serm.  ii.  3.  223.       ira- 
cunda  Diana  :  the  wrath  of  Diana  ;  the  cause  of  the  fanaticus  error. 
Diana  here  stands  for  luna,  which  was  supposed  to  cause  4  lunacy. ' 
With  the  expression,  cf.  lymphis  iratis,  Serm.  i.  5.  97. 


406  BOOK  II.    EPISTLE  3.  [PAGE  161. 

455.  tetigisse :    the  infinitive  is  used  as  the  object  of  timent, 
instead  of  a  clause  with  ne.     The  perfect  has  nearly  the  force  of  the 
present,  but  may  denote  the   effect  of  having  touched  him.      See 
Introd.  §  44. /. 

456.  agitant :  plague ;  cf.  Serm.  i.  3.  133.        incauti  :  careless 
people,'  the  madman  was  likely  to  turn  and  attack  his  tormentors. 

457.  sublimis :  with  his  head  in  the  air,  and  his  thoughts  above 
all  earthly  affairs.         errat :  i.e.  wanders  from  the  road. 

459.  in  puteum :  Thales  is  said  to  have  fallen  into  a  well  while 
contemplating  the  stars  as  he  walked.      See  Plato,   Theaet.  174  A. 
longum :  so  as  to  be  heard  at  a  distance  ;  lonyum  is  accusative  of  the 
inner  object. 

460.  sit:  there  would  be. 

462.  qui  scis  an:  how  do  you  know  that  .  .  .  not,  with  an  for  an 
non,  an  expression  from  the  colloquial  language.  prudens:  on 
purpose. 

463.  Siculi  poetae:  Empedocles,  whose  act  is  described  in  the 
next  line.     See  note  on  i.  12.  20. 

464.  deus  immortalis  haberi :   according  to  the  story,  he  wished 
the  manner  of  his  death  to  be  unknown,  that  it  might  be  thought  that 
he  had  been  enrolled  among  the  gods  ;  but  one  of  his  bronze  sandals 
was  cast  up  by  the  volcano,  and  the  truth  thus  discovered. 

465.  frigidus:  in  cold  blood.     Frigidus  is  contrasted  by  a  grim 
jest  with  ardentem. 

467.  idem  facit  occidenti:  does  the  same  as  kill  him;  a  Greek 
construction.      With  the  thought,  cf.  Sen.  Phoen.  100,  occidere  est 
vetare  cupient_em  mori.     This  is  the  only  spondaic  verse  in  the  Ser- 
mones  and  Epistles. 

468.  iam :  at  once.     Cf.  Odes,  i.  4.  16. 

469.  homo :  as  if  he  had  wished  to  appear  a  god  like  Empedocles. 
famosae :  notorious. 

470.  cur  versus  factitet :  i.e.  why  he  has  been  visited  with  this 
frenzy. 

471.  bidental :    when   a  place   was  struck  by  lightning,  sheep 
(bidentes)  were  sacrificed,  and  the  place  was  surrounded  by  a  low  wall 
or  curb. 

474.  indoctum  doctumque:  i.e.  he  makes  no  distinction  of 
persons. 

476.  hirudo :  like  a  leech.  As  often,  Horace  identifies  the  person 
with  the  thing  with  which  the  person  is  compared ;  see  Introd.  §  53.  q. 

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